Riyadh Air (RXI, Riyadh) is planning to order more aircraft after its initial commitment for thirty-nine B787-9s with a further 33 options, Chief Executive Tony Douglas told Bloomberg.
"There will be more orders to follow, and it will enable us to put connectivity into places that fulfil the ambition of the nation, but for the avoidance of doubt, this will be commercially sustainable," he emphasised.
Without disclosing details, he said that a new order would be announced "soon".
The delivery of the first of Riyadh Air's thirty-nine firm-ordered B787-9s is scheduled for 2025. Douglas said the airline would hold back its launch until then and would not seek to lease any aircraft with quicker deliveries.
"We don't want to start with a product that is not consistent," he said.
The new Saudi flag carrier will operate out of its single base at Riyadh. It plans to have a simple fleet comprising a maximum of two types to reduce costs and complexity. Riyadh Air will focus on inbound leisure and VFR traffic, as well as connecting traffic via the Saudi capital to compete with its regional rivals. It is owned by the sovereign Public Investment Fund, which also controls Saudia. The existing flag carrier will continue to operate alongside Riyadh Air out of its bases at Jeddah International, Riyadh, and Dammam.
Douglas previously headed Etihad Aviation Group, where he oversaw a campaign of cuts and downsizing to restructure the group after an ill-fated global investment spree under his predecessor James Hogan.
