Airline profile · Middle East

Riyadh Air

Saudi ArabiaFull-service carrierSince 2023

RXIATA code
RXIICAO code

Riyadh Air is a new full-service airline wholly owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and based at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. It flew its first service, to London Heathrow, in October 2025 and opened public ticket sales in 2026. Riyadh Air is not in an alliance.

Founded
2023
First flight
2025-10-26
Headquarters
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Country
Saudi Arabia
Main hubs
King Khalid International Airport (RUH), Riyadh
Airline type
Full-service carrier
Alliance
None
Loyalty
Sfeer
Ownership
Wholly owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), according to the airline.
Callsign
RIYADH AIR
Website
riyadhair.com

How travel agents book Riyadh Air

GDS distribution

No verified public statement of Riyadh Air's distribution through Amadeus, Sabre or Travelport was found for this profile. In August 2026 it signed a distribution cooperation agreement with TravelSky, China's travel technology provider.

NDC

No public NDC programme details verified at time of writing.

Direct channels

Riyadh Air sells on riyadhair.com and its app. The website lists a Business Solutions area and a GTAA addendum for trade partners. In January 2024 it named Almosafer as its first Saudi travel company partner.

Notes for travel agents

Riyadh Air is still ramping up its schedule. Sabre provides its planning and retailing technology (2024 agreements), but that is airline technology rather than confirmed GDS content, so check availability in your booking system before quoting.

On ReservationHub

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History of Riyadh Air

Riyadh Air was launched in March 2023 as a new Saudi national carrier owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), with its first fleet order, for up to 72 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, announced the same month. Its plan is to connect Riyadh to more than 100 destinations by 2030 as part of Saudi Vision 2030.

The airline built up its fleet and partnerships before flying. It ordered 60 Airbus A321neo family aircraft in October 2024 and up to 50 Airbus A350-1000s in June 2025, and signed agreements with airlines including Delta, Virgin Atlantic and Air France-KLM. The General Authority of Civil Aviation granted its operating licence in April 2025.

Riyadh Air's first flight, from Riyadh to London Heathrow on a Boeing 787-9, operated on 26 October 2025, alongside the launch of its Sfeer loyalty programme. Public ticket sales opened in May 2026 as new 787-9s joined the London route, and full commercial operations followed in June 2026, when it became an IATA member and started flights to Jeddah, Dubai and Cairo.

In July 2026 the airline committed to buy 28 more Boeing 787s, adding the 787-10, and placed a firm order for six more A350-1000s.

Milestones

  1. 2023Launched by PIF in March, with an order for up to 72 Boeing 787-9s.
  2. 2024Orders 60 Airbus A321neo family aircraft in October.
  3. 2025Operating licence granted in April; up to 50 A350-1000s ordered in June; first flight to London Heathrow on 26 October with Sfeer launched.
  4. 2026Public ticket sales open in May; IATA membership and first domestic flight to Jeddah in June; TravelSky distribution agreement in August.
  5. 2026Commits to 28 more Boeing 787s and six more A350-1000s at Farnborough in July.

Fleet

Boeing 787-9 Boeing 787-10 (on order) Airbus A350-1000 (on order) Airbus A321neo (on order)

Aircraft types in service as of 2026

Riyadh Air began flying with the Boeing 787-9. Its fleet page shows 72 787-9s (39 confirmed and 33 more to follow), 25 firm A350-1000 orders with 25 purchase rights, and 60 A321neos, for a planned fleet of 182 aircraft. In July 2026 it committed to buy 28 more 787s, including the 787-10, and firmed six further A350-1000s.

AACO's January 2026 table, based on Cirium data, showed one 787 in service at that date.

Network and hubs

Riyadh Air is based at King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh. Its first route, to London Heathrow, opened in October 2025, followed in June 2026 by Jeddah, Dubai and Cairo.

As of November 2026 its website lists 16 destinations, including Jeddah, Dubai, Cairo, London, Manchester, Madrid, Milan, Mumbai, Islamabad, Lahore, Dhaka, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Jakarta. Jakarta flights were due to start in November 2026. The airline aims to serve more than 100 destinations by 2030.

Riyadh Air: frequently asked questions

What are Riyadh Air's IATA and ICAO codes?

Riyadh Air uses the IATA airline code RX and the ICAO designator RXI, with the radio callsign RIYADH AIR. IATA's code directory lists the company as Aviation Services Company, doing business as Riyadh Air, registered in Saudi Arabia. Flight numbers carry the RX prefix.

Has Riyadh Air started flying?

Yes. Riyadh Air operated its first flight, Riyadh to London Heathrow on a Boeing 787-9, on 26 October 2025. Public ticket sales opened in May 2026, and in June 2026 it launched full commercial operations, including flights to Jeddah, Dubai and Cairo.

Who owns Riyadh Air?

Riyadh Air is wholly owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund. It is a separate airline from Saudia, the existing national carrier, and both are based in Saudi Arabia. The two airlines announced a digital partnership in August 2026.

What aircraft does Riyadh Air fly?

Riyadh Air flies the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Its order book adds more 787-9s, the 787-10, Airbus A350-1000s and 60 Airbus A321neo family aircraft. The airline's fleet page describes a planned fleet of 182 aircraft, before the further orders announced in July 2026.

What is Riyadh Air's loyalty programme?

Riyadh Air's loyalty programme is called Sfeer and launched in October 2025 alongside the first London flights. The airline says Sfeer Points do not expire, and it has partnerships with brands such as Hilton and Uber. The airline reported in August 2026 that membership was set to reach one million.

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Sources

  1. Riyadh Air — Media hub (press releases)
  2. Riyadh Air — Fleet
  3. Riyadh Air — About us
  4. Riyadh Air — Official website (destinations)
  5. CAPA — Riyadh Air airline profile
  6. AACO — Member airlines: Riyadh Air
  7. AACO — Riyadh Air to commence Riyadh-Jakarta service in November 2026
  8. AACO — Riyadh Air, Saudi Airlines launch digital partnership (August 2026)
  9. IATA — Airline and location code search
  10. FAA — JO 7340.2N Contractions (ICAO three-letter designators and telephony)

Profile updated by the ReservationHub team. Airline details change: confirm schedules, fares and policies with the airline before booking. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.