Saudi Arabian start-up Riyadh Air showed off its colours at the Paris Air Show on Monday, giving the industry a taste of its livery and ambitions on a deal-packed first day of the event.
Riyadh Air sported a fresh purple livery on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, with the company having been unveiled in March this year alongside an order for some 72 wide-body jets from the manufacturer.
His Excellency Governor of the General Authority for Military Industries @GAMI_KSA Ahmad Al-Ohali, visits the #RiyadhAir chalet at the #ParisAirShow. #FutureTakesFlight pic.twitter.com/SDjJfBLBVR
— Riyadh Air (@RiyadhAir) June 19, 2023
However, Riyadh Air boss Tony Douglas has raised concern over Boeing’s delivery delay woes, emphasising that the new airline needs its first jets on schedule in early 2025.
“If [Boeing is] late with us, it’s not as if we can extend leases, and it’s not as if we can slow down the network expansion,” he said ahead of the show on Sunday, “that is a commitment that Boeing has got into.”
Riyadh Air is looking to tap into a resurgence in air travel demand, having been set up by the country’s public investment fund amid a shift toward tourism and diversification away from oil.
The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) faced a relatively quiet day on the first day of the air show meanwhile, with Riyadh Air confirming no more orders would be placed with the supplier at this year’s event.
Boeing's rival Airbus Group (EPA:AIR) scored several new deals though, including a new record for the commercial aviation sector.
Aside from the 500-strong order from Indian carrier Indigo, Airbus has also penned narrow-body deals with Saudi low-cost carrier Flynas for 30 jets from the A320neo family and with Qantas for nine A220s.
Wider-body jets deals were also signed with Air Mauritius for three A350s, a longer-range twin-engine jet powered by Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (LSE:RR.)’s Trent XWB power units.