Picture credits: Riyadh Air
New Delhi: Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, recently led a high-level delegation to India to explore potential collaborations with major Indian carriers, Air India and IndiGo. This visit, from March 12 to 14, highlights Riyadh Air’s focus on strengthening its presence in the Indian aviation market ahead of its operational launch later this year.
Engagements in India
During his visit, Douglas met with top executives from Air India and IndiGo, as well as officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The discussions focused on securing regulatory approvals and forging strategic partnerships to enhance connectivity between India and Saudi Arabia.
Douglas emphasized India’s significance in Riyadh Air’s network strategy, stating: “India has long been a crucial part of Riyadh Air’s network planning ahead of our operations launch. As the world’s first digital-native airline, we are dedicated to partnering with various stakeholders in India to create a sustainable, prosperous, and mutually beneficial relationship that delivers exceptional travel experiences.”
Speaking about potential partnerships, Douglas added, “We are in touch with both Air India and IndiGo for strategic collaborations to enhance connectivity and provide seamless travel experiences.”
Watch the CEO share his insights in the video below:
VIDEO | Riyadh Air, which plans to commence operations this year, will explore partnerships with Air India and IndiGo to tap the potential of the Indian market, a top executive said earlier today.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 12, 2025
Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas said that the Indian subcontinent is "super important"… pic.twitter.com/YogiIjQoS0
Significance of the Indian Market
With India emerging as a key tourism and employment hub for Saudi Arabia, Douglas highlighted the rapid increase in travel between the two countries. In 2024, Saudi Arabia welcomed 1.5 million Indian tourists, marking a 50% surge from the previous year. The Saudi Tourism Authority aims to attract 7.5 million Indian visitors annually by 2030.
Riyadh Air has also witnessed strong interest from Indian aviation professionals. The airline has received 1.4 million job applications from 146 nationalities, Women made up 52% of the applicants. Riyadh Air currently has 500 employees, including 36 pilots and 36 cabin crew, with Indians forming the second-largest employee group comprising 16% of the workforce after Saudis.
Fleet and Expansion Plans
Riyadh Air plans to launch operations with 60 Airbus A321neos and 72 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Additionally, the airline is in talks with Boeing and Airbus to acquire wide-body aircraft, including models like the Boeing 777-9X and the Airbus A350-1000.
As part of its expansion strategy, Riyadh Air has appointed Bird Travels as its exclusive distribution and sales partner in India. This partnership aims to increase the airline’s brand visibility and promote flight services across the country.
By 2030, Riyadh Air aims to connect Saudi Arabia to over 100 global destinations, contributing $20 billion to the country’s non-oil GDP growth and creating more than 200,000 jobs worldwide.
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