Saudia Group, in collaboration with Riyadh Season 2024, has launched a new event space called “BLVD Runway” in Riyadh city center featuring three retired Saudia Boeing 777 aircraft.
The new zone, which is themed around an airport runway, is now open to the public, according to a company press release. The space includes three Boeing 777 aircraft, which have been transformed to provide “a unique setting for entertainment, shopping, dining, and interactive experiences,” the group added.
On December 18, 2024, Turki Alalsheikh, the Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), received a symbolic key to the aircraft from Ibrahim Al-Omar, the Director General of Saudia Group, marking the official opening of the zone, which will continue for two months.
“We are proud to be part of this historic moment, marking our participation in Riyadh Season,” Al-Omar said. “The season has experienced exceptional growth and transformation year after year and is one of the most anticipated entertainment events, under the direct supervision of Turki Alalsheikh. This collaboration is one of the fruits of Saudia’s sponsorship of Riyadh Season 2024 as a platinum and official airline partner.”
The new zone covers 140,000 square meters, and has 13 retail stores, 13 interactive experiences, and five restaurants.
At the launch event, technicians from Saudia Technic, a subsidiary of Saudia Group, explained how the aircraft were taken apart and transported overland from Jeddah to Riyadh.
The process of dismantling, transporting, and reassembling the aircraft “was completed in record time”, Saudia said.
Two of the aircraft were retired in 2016 and the third in 2018.
During the unveiling event, flight attendants shared that the aircraft had been in service for 19 years, including the number of flights, flight hours and destinations served along with stories from memorable journeys.