Things are moving faster now that Riyadh Air has received its AOC (air operator certificate). The airline is looking at launching its first flights this year, 2025, and has now finally presented the first version of its aircraft cabin interiors. Let me guide you through what the airline has in plan and my two cents about it.
In this post:
- 3 (and a little more) Travel Classes For the Riyadh Air Boeing 787
- What I Think The Plan is For Riyadh Air
- Sign up to my newsletter
3 (and a little more) Travel Classes For the Riyadh Air Boeing 787
If you haven’t been following the developments revolving around Riyadh Air, the aircraft of choice for the airline to commence operations is the Boeing 787. No surprise as that is the aircraft the airline also showcased in its livery (despite it being owned by another airline) at the Paris Air show 2 years ago (in 2023).
The 787 will feature a 3 class configuration, with a small caveat in the premium cabins, which will feature:
- Business Class
- Premium Economy
- Economy Class
The caveat is that Business class will also feature a Business Elite seat configuration, which offers greater space and the possibility of utilizing the central seats as a honeymoon suite. They occupy the first row of business will be the one designated as Business Elite.
Therefore, recapping the cabin configuration, the new Riyadh Air Boeing 787 cabin configuration will feature:
- 4 Business Elite Seats
- 24 Business Class Seats (in a 1-2-1 layout)
- 39 Premium Economy Seats (in a 2-3-2 layout)
- 223 Economy Class Seats (in a standard 3-3-3 layout)
Let’s go into the detail of what each class offers in terms of hard product.
Business Class – Riyadh Air Going All Out On Comforts and Eye-Catching Features
The seats are based on the French-manufactured Safran Unity seats. However the airline, as you’d expect from a carrier with the sorts of ambitions Riyadh Air has, didn’t just take the off-the-shelf option. They further enhanced the standard Safran Unity model with more eye-catching feature aiming to wow new customers and generate repeat business.
The seat is, of course, a flat-bed capable seat with a length of 78 inches and a width of 22.5 inches (45 inch seat pitch). Privacy walls are installed, much like on Qatar Airways Qsuites. They seem to be proper walls and not lighter partitions, as seen on some airlines, standing tall at 52 inches, ensuring a high level of privacy when the doors are shut. Central seats have mobile partitions that allow see you neighbor if traveling together.
Let’s move on to the tech included on the Riyadh Air new Business Class seats. The airline states it has fitted the seats with the largest IFE screens in the skies. Business Elite will have a whopping 32″ screen while regular Business a smaller 22″ screen. Across all classes all screens are 4K OLED, which will ensure crisp and outstanding image quality.
Each business class seat has two USB-C and one USB-A charging ports. Most notable is the choice for the audio playback from the IFE. Like Japan Airlines (in first and business class), Riyadh Air has opted to fit its Business Elite and Business seats with the Devialet signature acoustic technology headrests. That means no headphones are required. The headrest includes speakers that will offer an immersive experience without disturbing fellow-passengers.
Premium Economy and Economy Setup – Recaro Seats For Both Classes
Premium Economy and Economy class both feature German-produced Recaro seats. Premium economy will have the more plush and comfortable PL3530 model, while economy class will feature the solid and much appreciated Recaro R3 model.
Premium Economy, in its 2-3-2 layout, will include some premium touches to its seats. Among them the privacy winglets on the headrest which will avoid awkward eye encounters with neighbors. Premium Economy on Riyadh Air will have a seat pitch of 38 inches and a 15.6″ IFE screen along with 4 USB-C charging ports.
Standard economy, in its standard 3-3-3 layout, will have a narrower 17.2″ seat width accompanying a 31″ seat pitch. IFE screen comes in as the smallest on the plane, but still very generous, at 13.4″.
What I Think The Plan is For Riyadh Air – How Will It Market Itself and Co-Exist with Saudia?
In recent interviews the CEO of Riyadh Air, Tony Douglas, stated that, as the name of the airline might have given away, they will be operating out of Riyadh international airport. Saudia will remain the main player in Jeddah Airport, more on that in a little bit. They will not be going in direct competition on many long range routes with the other national carrier of the KSA.
The idea I have made for myself about what the plan looks to be is the following. Saudia is the legacy airline of the country, it will remain so and will focus on two key selling points:
- Its operations out of Jeddah International airport.
- Offering a more religious abiding experience.
What I mean in the second point is that I feel like, I might be totally wrong, that Saudia will offer a conservative experience which is something a segment of the population certainly values. Riyadh Air looks like a young, vibrant and open experience which will be attractive to a younger cut of the population and very possibly to foreigners.