A Saudi Arabian start up travel company has placed a £6 billion order for a fleet of brand new aeroplanes in a bid to compete with established airline companies in the area.
Riyadh Air, which sets to launch its airline service from 2025, has purchased 60 Airbus narrowbody A321neo jets, increasing the company’s number of planes to a sizable 132.
Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, highlighted that the new jets will ensure the company will be able to take on growth whilst cutting emissions.
He explained: “This order will not only enable us to support economic growth in the aviation industry.
“It will also ensure Riyadh Air operates one of the most sustainable fleets in the industry and be instrumental in helping Saudi Arabia achieve its net-zero emissions goals.”
Due to be delivered from the second half of 2026 to 2030, Riyadh Air’s fleet of Airbus A321s will join a significant number of other designs from the company alongside Boeing models that were ordered in 2023.
The move could spark panic among rival established airlines in the Middle East region, including the likes of Emirates Airlines and Qatar Airlines.
Whilst the A321 was first introduced in 1994, the revised A321neo is currently one of the most sustainable and fuel efficient aeroplanes, being able to cover around 4,600 miles without stopping to refuel.
Featuring a single aisle with two rows of three seats, the A321neo can carry typically seat between 180 and 220 passengers at a time, with most featuring two classes.
Founded in March 2023, Riyadh Air is Saudi Arabia’s latest airline, which plans to take on companies such as Qatar and Emirates when it launches in 2025.
Based at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the airline plans to travel to a number of destinations, such as America, China, Singapore, and Turkey.
Ahead of their maiden voyage, the Riyadh Air has signed a partnership with Delta Airlines in the USA to boost its global network, in addition to agreements with companies including Turkish Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Egyptair.