Ambitious airline startup Riyadh Air is expected to launch operations in late 2025, using Boeing 787-9s (the airline has up to 72 of these on order). The airline has revealed details like its aircraft livery, brand sonic, and employee uniforms, but hasn’t revealed the details of its aircraft interiors… until now!
Continue reading: Riyadh Air Unveils Elegant 787 Cabins, Business Class Suites
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
"guests should have no issues staying entertainment."
You mean staying connected 😉
Nothing on wireless charging?
They really put some thought into their design especially the patterns on the seatback and table finishes that plenty of airlines tend to overlook.
But 31" in economy—ouch.
I'm just surprised Executive Traveller hasn't written an article yet!
Ben, since this won't have first class, do you know if Saudia has any plans to revamp their F? I would think with all the money SA is pouring into tourism that they would want an incredible, even over-the-top first class product to accompany that.
Nice. But as a self described premium airline, I’m a bit suprised there isn’t a larger premium cabin. Mighty heavy Y configuration there.
@ pstm91 -- As I'll cover in a separate post, Riyadh Air actually does plan to offer first class on some future aircraft, just not 787s. Unfortunately no plans have been announced for Saudia to revamp its first class. With most of the money being poured into Riyadh and not Jeddah, I wouldn't expect much.
The business class cabin looks cramped and a bit oppressive, and then I figured out that for some reason they installed useless central overhead bins in the already tiny (small circumference) 787. It really comes off as cheap, not premium in any way other than the fact that they're installing what anyone would in 2025 (4K screens, bluetooth, etc. etc.).
Empty marketing PR.
2 Thoughts:
1. I wonder if they'll offer award tickets right off the bat at schedule open (via either VS, TK, or SQ). Could be a lucrative opportunity to try them out (presuming they *won't* have attractive pricing for J on release).
2. Is there any info as to destinations yet?
To use a modernist term, I was …. “Blown away” by the New La Premiere cabin.
The Riyadh Air offering has some very nice design accents, however, sadly it is not in the same league as the French offering.
Two dark, too easily mistaken for some notable Far Eastern renditions …. and yes, I am well aware that I’m comparing a J to an F product.
Looks pretty good overall. I just don't see the point of another ME carrier that flies an extra several thousand miles to connect me to where I need. I won't personally be going to Riyadh anytime soon and it doesn't take me anywhere else I want to go efficiently.
Starlux was exciting to me because TPE is an effective transit hub to Asia, in particular SE Asia, and Taiwan has actual appeal as a destination to visit. On that note, it's rumored that JX's first destination to Europe will be HEL, which 100% means an AY partnership, hopefully in the form of Avios awards and/or OW membership.
Premium doesn't mean volume.
It means quality.
The cabin doesn't need to be large to call it a premium carrier. In fact, it's supposed to be the opposite. A smaller, more private cabin, less availability increases the value of individual seats and service should be better personalised. That's why La Premier is 4 seats and not 8 or 12.
Same with Delta who can command a higher premium price on its A350 compared to United or American equivalents.
Tony Douglas is embracing Premium economy here with an even larger cabin than expected. New entrants usually start with 21/28 seats to 'test the waters' before increasing seat count, but he went 'all in' here.
I wonder why he didn't take this approach with Etihad on their B787 and A350.
Etihad was likely following the example set by its competitors (Emirates and Qatar) at the time. All of those airlines were focused on having an above average and adequate Economy Class experience, so there weren't really interested in having a Premium Economy cabin. Then post-2015 Etihad was all about cost cutting due to the losses the airline had, which meant they wouldn't have had the ability to invest in developing a Premium Economy product. I agree that EY should consider adding it now.
Economy seems to be very cramped. Around 17" of width, and 31" of pitch. That's extremely tight, especially for long haul flights. Qatar has wider seats on all of their long haul flights (exception is their 787, but they don't fly it long haul). Emirates 777s has slightly wider seats and 32" of pitch. And there is no AC outlet in Economy! Not even shared between seats. Would love to fly with them, but definetly not on a long-haul flight.
Don't trust the published seat-width numbers.
9-abreast 787, 10-abreast 777, and 6-abreast 737 get pretty much the exact same 17" in Y.
You can't possibly add a "column" of seats while keeping them at a civilized width.
They're all running 737-spec 17" seats.
I understand Pre-covid
But I'm talking post-covid
Douglas was there when the A350-1000 came in. The new B787-9 was also in advanced planning before he left, meaning that he approved of this two new aircraft with premium economy in place, even with the success seen by Emirates to their East.
Ben, when will you write an article on why the Riyadh Air & Delta partnership is already the most dominant ME/US3 partnership? 😉
While the premium cabins look nice, economy looks downright awful. A pretty color scheme and Bluetooth audio can't overcome a severe lack of space for the majority of passengers on long-haul flights.
Nothing groundbreaking here despite the pre launch hype, business looks nice……but 38in pitch in premium,and awful 31in in economy, hardly sets them apart!
Some B737 go with 18 inch wide seats.
Reduce the armrest and aisle.
Most B787 and B777 get up to 17.3 inches.
except Delta is flying JUNK 767 to Europe, and the few places they fly international on its 350 is a joke.
So suckers flying in Atlanta pay more.
I very much doubt that, on any route. They'll be as dry as the Atacama Desert.