Saudi start-up airline Riyadh Air is planning for two more airline joint ventures (JV), its CEO Tony Douglas said at an Aviation Club luncheon event on November 6, 2024.
“There's probably two more before we say, ‘right that’s enough',” Douglas said. “One will probably be another northwestern European carrier, and one will be an Indian sub-continent carrier. We're agnostic of whether they're in Star Alliance, whether they're in oneworld, or SkyTeam.”
Douglas affirmed the airline has no plans to join any airline alliance.
Speaking on the sidelines, Douglas would not disclose the particular airlines the start-up airline was considering. He added that the company still had to digest information before discussions begin.
The two JVs would build upon its already plethora of partnerships signed with Air China, China Eastern, Delta, EgyptAir, Singapore Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic.
Having launched in March last year and with operations expected to begin in summer next year, the start-up airline is utilising these partnerships to position itself more strongly in the market and network.
The airline - funded and owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) - said there is a pressure on time but has allowed it to make decisions with more immediacy.
“Aircraft is always a principal issue,” Douglas added. “We cannot operate until we take our first three aircraft. With the third aircraft, we're up and running, and in the game. We will get widebody deliveries from Boeing next year."
At the event, Douglas confirmed the airline is in now seeking another widebody order, with an aircraft order announcement expected next year. Douglas said it was between either the A350-1000s or the 777X jets.
“The [widebody] campaign will determine what the right answer is to that question,” Douglas said. He underpinned the fact that the airline had to get its network to 100 international cities within the first years and would need a “sizeable fleet”.
Riyadh Air ordered 39 787 widebody jets, with options for another 33 as part of a deal involving the national carrier Saudia, last year. It also last week added a firm order for 60 A321neo family, along with securing a $1.3bn credit boost. Douglas added that the company completed “all the flying elements” of its air operators certificate (AOC) process.