Saudi Arabia closes in on launching new airline

In June 2021, we at Scramble already reported that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was planning to establish a new, second, national airline. Since then it has been quiet but now more details are starting to emerge. According to ArabianBusiness, the new airline will be based at Riyadh and called RIA. It plans to launch flights later this year using Airbus A320neos and Boeing B737MAXs.

The new, second airline, is part of the Kingdom's plan to diversify its economy away from oil and position itself as a logistics hub, connecting the world from its strategic location.

Saudia, which is based at Jeddah, will continue to operate as it's today, as does its low-cost subsidiary flyadeal. The country also has low-cost carrier flynas, which is owned by a Saudi prince.

Photo by Saudia.