NEOM Airlines: An Outlandish New Saudi Airline

NEOM Airlines: An Outlandish New Saudi Airline

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Saudi Arabia is currently investing an unheard of amount of money in its tourism industry. Part of this plan includes launching Riyadh Airlines, a new mega-airline that’s intended to compete with Emirates. As it turns out, that’s not the only new airline that the country is launching. Say hello to NEOM Airlines.

The basics of NEOM Airlines

NEOM Airlines is a new airline concept that’s in the process of being launched, as it’s to be based at NEOM Bay Airport. For context, NEOM is Crowne Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s $500 billion futuristic mega project. Most significantly, this is where “The Line” is being built, which is Saudi Arabia’s new smart city that looks… almost not real?

The Line is intended to eventually house nine million people, who will live in interconnected societies run by artificial intelligence. This will be a 170 kilometer coastal strip that will be free of cars and streets, and will allegedly have zero carbon emissions. Excavation is underway, and it’s expected that this will open in the coming years.

The region is also expected to have a massive airport by 2030, which will be one of the largest in the world when complete.

So, what’s the plan for NEOM Airlines, and how does the airline fit into this vision?

  • The company’s CEO is Klaus Goersch, a veteran airline executive who was previously COO at both Air Canada and British Airways
  • The airline plans to launch in late 2024, initially operating aircraft that were acquired secondhand; starting in 2026, the airline will introduce “new innovative aircraft, whether it be electric, hydrogen-powered, or supersonic”
  • Planes will be equipped with “big screens” at every seat that are compatible with your own device, and the airline plans to “offer 6G Wi-Fi and will accommodate gaming and chat”
  • All flights will have some sustainable fuel onboard, originating from mixing facilities in NEOM
  • The airline will fly from NEOM to the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and the Americas

Here’s how Goersch describes his plan for the airline:

I’ve worked for some of the world’s biggest airlines, including British Airways and Air Canada, but I can honestly say the opportunity here is way beyond anything else out there. There is a freedom in starting from zero and being well funded enough to explore the ideas that challenge the accepted norms. We can be futuristic and efficient, we don’t have to modify or retrofit.

The airline will be an ambassador, a showcase for NEOM. Therefore, it has to be a very good product and it has to reflect the values of the overall project. It’s not just an airline, it’s a brand extension and a linear part of the travel experience because you remember the way you got there as well as the place itself. Our ultimate ambition is that you will not think about being on a plane or in an airport, you will simply enjoy the experience. Wouldn’t that be something?

My take on NEOM Airlines

I have to be honest, I’m incredibly intrigued by what Saudi Arabia is doing at the moment when it comes to tourism and building cities of the future. Let me be very clear — I have obvious concerns about Saudi Arabia, so I’m not trying to gloss over those issues or fawn over the country.

However, we’ve never in history seen a country invest so much money in essentially trying to build a tourism industry from scratch. This is a country that until several years ago didn’t even allow non-religious tourism, and it’s now trying to become a tourist global hotspot. There’s no denying that Saudi Arabia is willing to invest the money, but the question is whether the country can build something that people will want to experience, especially given the country’s historical reputation.

More specific to NEOM Airlines, I have a few thoughts:

  • Saudi Arabia is going all-in on its NEOM development, so it’s logical that the country would be looking to establish significant air service there, beyond the limited service currently offered by Saudia
  • I can’t for the life of me wrap my head around why Saudi Arabia is investing in a few different airlines, as you’ll essentially have the same owners behind Saudia, Riyadh Airlines, and NEOM Airlines; why not just build one big airline from scratch, as that seems most efficient?
  • NEOM Airlines has a respected airline executive behind it, and I believe this airline is “serious,” though the concept behind it almost seems so outlandish as to not be real; for example, the airline plans to acquire new aircraft by 2026, and is considering electric, hydrogen-powered, and supersonic planes?

Bottom line

NEOM is one of Saudi Arabia’s biggest new developments, and the country plans to invest in a new airline to be based there. The airline is expected to be launched in 2024, initially operating used aircraft, and then by 2026 the airline should be flying new aircraft. Saudi Arabia is also building one of the world’s biggest airports in NEOM, which this new airline will eventually call home.

While I can appreciate that Saudi Arabia is going all-in on tourism, what I find most confusing is that the country plans on having three government-owned airlines, rather than creating one huge airline. Why not have a single national airline, rather than separate airlines based in Jeddah, Riyadh, and NEOM?

What do you make of the plans for NEOM Airlines?

Conversations (28)
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  1. InceptionCat Gold

    So it seems that Neom Bay airport (NUM) is actually operational but on a small scale with flights to Dubai, Jeddah, LHR and a few others.

    The Line looks like living in one of those houses in the TV series Eureka.

    Oh well, let's wait and see.

  2. R.S. Guest

    Somehow people commenting on the topic seem to always deviate from the topic itself and discuss what they believe KSA to be as a country. The topic at hand is the new airline. Look at it as if the glass is half full by now, meaning that even if the new airline implements half of what is envisioned, it would be miles ahead in the game compared to the shit airlines that one has to...

    Somehow people commenting on the topic seem to always deviate from the topic itself and discuss what they believe KSA to be as a country. The topic at hand is the new airline. Look at it as if the glass is half full by now, meaning that even if the new airline implements half of what is envisioned, it would be miles ahead in the game compared to the shit airlines that one has to fly in the western countries. All US airlines are a joke, my canadian airlines are a joke as well. Outside of our middle eastern airlines, you only have Singapore, Turkish, and Lufthansa that are decent. Thus, the bar is so low that exceeding it wouldnt be that difficult. Stop complaining.

  3. Gary Guest

    Having different branded airlines isn’t that dissimilar to hotel owners having licenses with different hotel management companies at different properties, it’s just standard portfolio diversification which makes sense once you get to a certain wealth level

  4. Fk Guest

    America has how many airlines?
    India? China? England?

    What is the problem with multiple airlines, exactly?

  5. Comshit sucks Guest

    No problem as long as the temperature is less than 120 Degrees .

  6. Ray Guest

    That trust fund baby is going to run his country’s built-up reserves dry and I’m going to enjoy watching him do it.

    1. Kernie kutchoo Guest

      Have nothing and be happy. I’m sure gates and klauus are funding these projects. I will not eat the cube will you??

  7. MarcoLA Guest

    The Saudi’s are trying to buy their way into the respectable, civilized world. Why join in the promotion? It’s a barbaric society that is racist, sexist and homophobic…where people are routinely executed at the whim of the ruling family. The Western democracies should work hard to change Saudi Arabia, not jump on the bandwagon. And the Line is an absurd joke that has been ridiculed by architects and urban planners around the world.

    1. Ammade' Guest

      what is a respectable , civilized world , western democracies? Not good examples anymore

  8. Jerry Guest

    Well the Line will probably be the type of city that rich white progressives would actually love to have everyone live in - completely controlled, surveilled, and monitored all by tech/AI. They are just mad that an authoritarian, religious country will be in control. Behind China, Saudi Arabia seems like the only other country in the world that could get something like this done.

    1. Juraj Member

      I assure you that progressives of any color consider it a dystopian hellhole, impractical to the point of being idiotic, using the least viable shape and giving a worse living experience than a car-centric American suburb.

  9. Eskimo Guest

    Very interesting.

    What Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia have in common.
    They want to build big walls.

    1. JA Guest

      The airline may or may not takeoff, however Neom is a intresting project. The Line , whatever you think of it , will be Iconic if it is finished.

  10. Dn10 Guest

    One airline for each of the big 3 alliances?

    1. ORD_Is_My_Second_Home Gold

      More like one airline for each of the three big cities: Saudia out of Jeddah, Emirates 2.0 out of Riyadh, and NEOM out of NEOM.

  11. Meto Guest

    No thanks ill stay away from homophobic hate mongers .no matter how much they try and polish there turd..still a turd and i can smell it from here

  12. DenB Diamond

    MBS throws a lot of mud at a wall. He also throws tantrums and corpses. If he launches 10 "outlandish" ventures a couple will probably get some traction. NEOM is promoted heavily but the reality on the ground is that there's no "there" there. Is something a success if one props it up with unlimited investment?

  13. Aman Guest

    The Line‘s viability in itself is questionable at best. Assuming it achieves several technical feet’s and actually gets built, where will it’s 9 million inhabitants come from? Will a mass exodus of people move away from their family, friends and neighbourhoods to live in a dystopian skyscraper only to have their lives managed by AI? And for what? Just so that they can drink alcohol?
    As for the hydrocarbon powered jets, well that says...

    The Line‘s viability in itself is questionable at best. Assuming it achieves several technical feet’s and actually gets built, where will it’s 9 million inhabitants come from? Will a mass exodus of people move away from their family, friends and neighbourhoods to live in a dystopian skyscraper only to have their lives managed by AI? And for what? Just so that they can drink alcohol?
    As for the hydrocarbon powered jets, well that says it all?
    Truth be told this is a chilling sign that MBS is heading in the same direction as the Shah of Iran and I shudder to think what will be become of Saudi Arabia.

  14. Luke Guest

    Not a place I'll ever be. Don't care about the airline food or hotels.

    I'm straight, Ben's gay. I don't care. The Saudi do, and will imprison him if he says anything against the government. Why would I go there?

  15. brteacher Guest

    It makes sense to keep Saudia as a dry airline that continues to be the brand of choice for religious travelers. There's simply no way to scale Saudia up to compete with the Gulf carriers, as it is targeting a different kind of passenger.

  16. Chris Guest

    Countries like this backward, necrotic theocracy are unable to create, to innovate, to improve. They can only use their flood of petrodollars to buy gaudy baubles and shiny things as a proverbial d-waving contest.

    1. snic Diamond

      Although every word you wrote is accurate, sometimes the d-waving contest results in successful enterprises. Such as Emirates and Etihad. I don't necessarily *expect* that to happen with Saudi Arabia's big plans for tourism and new airlines, but they do have an example to follow with the Gulf states, which they are obviously trying to emulate. Those countries have the same backwards history, and are still autocratic and retrograde, yet have found a way to...

      Although every word you wrote is accurate, sometimes the d-waving contest results in successful enterprises. Such as Emirates and Etihad. I don't necessarily *expect* that to happen with Saudi Arabia's big plans for tourism and new airlines, but they do have an example to follow with the Gulf states, which they are obviously trying to emulate. Those countries have the same backwards history, and are still autocratic and retrograde, yet have found a way to attract people from all over the world, whether they're coming just to pass through on the way from Europe or the US to Asia, or coming for vacation.

  17. Juergen Guest

    I visited the country numerous times and can attest that change is there and coming. I only have doubts that all these changes can make undo that thousands of Saudi’s are in prison these days for political reasons, much more than ever before. To me NEOM is just an other big picture and vision which is hiding an overall repressive and cruel regime.

  18. Klaus Guest

    For Carsten Spohr, even 9.5 airlines aren’t enough. That’s why he recently founded city air.

    From segmentation perspective (low cost vs premium // alliance vs non alliance // etc) it does make sense to have different airlines.

  19. Bagoly Guest

    "The Line... it’s expected that this will open in the coming years."
    "it's planned" "it's billled" "the PR puff predicts" etc
    But I don't think "it's expected" by many disinterested people.

  20. Mick Guest

    Agree it is strange to have 3 airlines. But I still remember the hesitancy (in like 2000) for people to fly emirates… and Dubai seems to be somewhat of an airline and stopover success. Hard to foresee the future (notwithstanding an appalling human rights record in Saudi).

    1. ConcordeBoy Diamond

      Huh? Who was "hesitant" to fly Emirates in 2000?

      It was already wildly successful in Europe, the Subcontinent, East Africa, etc to the point of some governments limiting its excess. There was so much impending demand for it to come to the Americas at that time that even freakin' Malaysia Airlines jumped the gun and launched DXB-EWR as a traffic grab, and Delta extending is Cairo flight to Dubai shortly thereafter, after it was publicized...

      Huh? Who was "hesitant" to fly Emirates in 2000?

      It was already wildly successful in Europe, the Subcontinent, East Africa, etc to the point of some governments limiting its excess. There was so much impending demand for it to come to the Americas at that time that even freakin' Malaysia Airlines jumped the gun and launched DXB-EWR as a traffic grab, and Delta extending is Cairo flight to Dubai shortly thereafter, after it was publicized that EK's A340-500s would be delayed until 2004... after which EK launched DXB-JFK to fantastic reception.

      You must be thinking of another airline..........

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snic Diamond

Although every word you wrote is accurate, sometimes the d-waving contest results in successful enterprises. Such as Emirates and Etihad. I don't necessarily *expect* that to happen with Saudi Arabia's big plans for tourism and new airlines, but they do have an example to follow with the Gulf states, which they are obviously trying to emulate. Those countries have the same backwards history, and are still autocratic and retrograde, yet have found a way to attract people from all over the world, whether they're coming just to pass through on the way from Europe or the US to Asia, or coming for vacation.

2
Juergen Guest

I visited the country numerous times and can attest that change is there and coming. I only have doubts that all these changes can make undo that thousands of Saudi’s are in prison these days for political reasons, much more than ever before. To me NEOM is just an other big picture and vision which is hiding an overall repressive and cruel regime.

2
RF Guest

It will be as real as the line. Unlikely.

1
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