Saudi Arabia launches second national carrier Riyadh Air with London flight

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia launched its second state-owned national airline, Riyadh Air, more than a year behind schedule, with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in the carrier's light blue and purple livery departing for London at 02:30 local time. The Riyadh-based airline will operate as the kingdom's second flag carrier alongside Saudia, which is headquartered in Jeddah. Chief Executive Tony Douglas told AFP that the airline aims to turn the Saudi capital into an international hub and compete with Dubai. The inaugural flight follows a 2025 launch that was postponed because of Boeing delivery delays, according to the report. Douglas also said Riyadh's geographic position has made it less exposed to recent Iranian airstrikes on Gulf targets, which have fueled regional economic uncertainty. No further details on the carrier's expansion timeline were immediately available.