Neom Airlines, Riyadh Air set to take off by early 2025 

Ifra Warsi

Saudi aviation sector looks set for a major transformation with the launch of two new airlines and  King Salman International Airport in Riyadh, DubaiNews.tv has learnt.

The two new airlines — Neom Airlines and Riyadh Air — are expected to start their operations by first quarter of 2025 to serve the $500 billion futuristic city in the country’s northwest region.

Neom Airlines is expected to begin its operations by the end of 2024 from the existing Neom Bay Airport, which started receiving commercial flights in 2019. However, the new airline will shift its operations to Neom International Airport once it is ready for international flights, according to aviation sources.

Riyadh Air is expected to start its first international flight in early 2025 as the airline announced an order of up to 72 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner airplanes.

The new carrier, the second national airline of the kingdom after Saudia, is expected to serve more than 100 destinations around the world by 2030.

“The airline is expected to support nearly 100,000 direct and indirect jobs and more than 300 suppliers from across 38 states, including 145 US small businesses,” Riyadh Air said in a statement.

Focus shifting to Neom

Klaus Goersch, chief executive of Neom Airlines, said the airline will be focused on enabling travel for tourists, residents and commercial partners to and from Neom.

In an article published on the official Neom website, he said Neom Bay will be used as a launch pad of the new airline.

“In the first instance out of Neom Bay Airport, which is already open with Saudia flights domestically as well as to London and Dubai, and then from the Neom International airport later in the cycle,” said Goersch.

The former chief operating officer of British Airways and Air Canada, Saudi Arabia will emerge as a new aviation hub because if its strategic location.

“Organically, due to the strategic geographical location and the level of economic activity here, we expect that we will have a global aviation hub on our hands as time goes on – servicing the Middle East, Europe, America, Asia and so on,” Goersch said in his article.

New airport shaping up

Neom International Airport is being developed close to the Tabuk end of the 170-kilometre-long Line development. In first phase, the airport will have the capacity to handle 25 million passengers annually while in second phase it will handle up to 50 million passengers a year.

“Neom International Airport will be one of the largests in the world with a capacity of 100 million passengers a year,” according to a Saudi aviation official.

Saudi Arabia has also announced the masterplan for King Salman International Airport in Riyadh that will accommodate up to 120 million passengers by 2030 and 185 million passengers by 2050.

“It will be the largest airport in the world in terms of passenger capacity.The airport also aims to process 3.5 million tonnes cargo annually by 2050,” according to the Saudi official.

Riyadh Air a game changer 

Aviation analysts said Riyadh Air will be a growth catalyst for King Salman International Airport once it is ready to operate in 2030.

By positioning the airline as both a global connector and a vehicle to drive tourist and business travel to Saudi Arabia, our new 787-9 airplanes will serve as a foundation for our worldwide operations, as we build the wider network and connect our guests to Saudi Arabia and many destinations around the world,” said Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air.

Douglas, who lead Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, said the new airline reflects the ambitious vision of Saudi Arabia to be at the core of shaping the future of global air travel and be a true disrupter in terms of the guest experience.

“Riyadh Air’s commitment to its guests will see the integration of digital innovation and authentic Saudi hospitality to deliver a seamless travel experience,” he said.