As Saudi Arabia's newest airline works to establish international relationships ahead of its market launch next year, Riyadh Air is broadening its network of collaborations with well-established carriers throughout the world.
According to persons familiar with the plans, the airline—owned by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia—is set to announce an agreement with a significant carrier in Southeast Asia in the near future. According to persons speaking about private discussions, Riyadh Air is also negotiating long-haul agreements with an Indian airline and a US airline. The people asked not to be named.
Riyadh Air representatives choose not to respond.
The business will start up in the middle of the next year with the goal of regaining business that has been taken over by low-cost carriers like as Emirates and Qatar Airways. With more than 36 million people living in Saudi Arabia and a developing tourism sector, Riyadh Air is expanding its fleet to take advantage of these travel patterns.
Through these arrangements, Riyadh Air would be able to immediately access the extensive networks that its partners now service, as well as offer feeder services to those locations. With Turkish Airlines, which flies to more destinations than any other carrier, the corporation previously engaged into agreements with them last year. Additionally, a current agreement exists with Saudia, the nation's flag airline.
39 787s are on order for Riyadh Air, and the airline also has options for 33 more aircraft. As part of its efforts to expand its short-haul operations, the airline is also considering placing orders for more widebody and narrowbody aircraft.
