RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air plans to bolster its aircraft lineup through additional orders, as it requires “a very large fleet” to establish itself alongside regional giants, stated the CEO. This move comes as the Kingdom’s second flag carrier, backed by the country’s Public Investment Fund, ordered 39 Boeing 787-9 jets last year, with options for 33 more. It also aligns well with Saudi Arabia’s goal to expand its aviation industry and attract more tourists, broadening its airline capacity beyond pilgrimage travel, which currently forms the backbone of the country’s inbound tourism. “We need a very large fleet, we’re going to make a number of additional orders,” CEO of Riyadh Air, Tony Douglas, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. He added: “We will be making a narrowbody order, we’ll probably be doing another large order after that to build us up to scale.” During the interview, Douglas, who previously led the Abu Dhabi flag carrier Etihad Airways, expressed being “very conscious” of potential delays to aircraft deliveries. This concern arises as both Boeing and Airbus SE grapple with production challenges amidst record demand and supply issues at the two plane makers. The establishment of a second Saudi national airline alongside the existing flag carrier Saudia is part of the Kingdom’s economic diversification plan. In November 2023, Douglas expressed confidence in the demand for travel. “We’re not well enough connected. It’s as simple as that,” he said at the time. The new airline stands to benefit from Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing economy and the increasing influx of tourists to the Kingdom. Riyadh Air does not intend to pursue mergers and acquisitions to fuel its growth. “No, it’s organic,” Douglas emphasized at the time. The initial destinations will include major cities in Europe, the US East Coast, and Canada, with the inaugural flight scheduled to depart by June 2025. By that time, Riyadh Air will have secured slots at major airports, Douglas mentioned, although hubs like London Heathrow are already operating close to capacity. “It won’t be easy ... but we have no reason to be anything other than confident that we’ll resolve all of that,” he said at the time.