Saudi Arabia announced the launch of a new national airline on Sunday, as part of a strategy to transform Riyadh into a major international aviation hub competing with regional leaders like Doha and Dubai. According to officials, Riyadh Air “plans to start service to more than hundreds of locations globally” by 2030. The Gulf kingdom is pursuing difficult aviation targets including more than tripling yearly traffic to 330 million passengers as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s all-encompassing “Vision 2030” reform agenda. Moreover, up to five million tonnes of cargo are sought annually.
Riyadh Air “plans to start service to more than hundreds of locations globally” by 2030
Last year, the SA government revealed its plans to build a new airport in Riyadh, the Saudi capital. The 57 sq km airport is expected to accommodate 120 million passengers annually by 2030 and 185 million passengers by 2050. Riyadh’s current airport can handle around 35 million passengers annually. The new airline is the most recent of a massive package of initiatives that will strengthen our nation’s position as a major centre for global logistics and aviation, according to the transport minister of South Africa. It stated that there would be “A new hub-a fleet of modern aircraft” on Sunday but did not provide any information regarding the size or source of the fleet.
The new airline is a massive package of initiatives that will strengthen Saudi’s position as a major centre for global logistics and aviation
The kingdom Nowadays, Jeddah, a Red Sea coastal city, is home to Riyadh’s busiest international airport, where flag carrier S.A. is headquartered. Each year, the city, which is known as the “Gateway to Mecca,” welcomes millions of Muslims on the hajj and umrah pilgrimages. Recently, officials have made an effort to promote Riyadh, in the centre of Saudi Arabia, as a rival to Dubai, the region’s commercial centre. By 2030, officials want the population of the capital to increase to 15-20 million from its present 8 million. Industry experts have questioned the viability of Saudi Arabia’s aims, with some claiming that the regional market is already “saturated”. Yet, the S.A. relies partially on taking advantage of the domestic market in a nation with some 35 million people, which officials view as a significant advantage for national carriers over rivals Emirates and Qatar Airways.
