In order to achieve its lofty aims, Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's much awaited new flagship airline, is stepping up preparations for its 2025 launch and placing a strong emphasis on hiring "top talent in the kingdom." The airline, which Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman introduced earlier this year, reflects Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 plan to diversify the economy and establish the kingdom as an international hub by striving to be a global leader in aviation.
By 2035, Riyadh Air hopes to have over 30,000 direct and indirect jobs created, with a focus on hiring Saudi natives. The airline aims to have 50% of its personnel Saudi by 2027, with a special emphasis on building competence in engineering, technology, and customer service.
By 2030, Riyadh Air is expected to have over 100 destinations worldwide, establishing itself as a high-end full-service airline. With a fleet of state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, the airline intends to raise the bar for efficiency, sustainability, and customer satisfaction.
The Public Investment Fund (PIF), the airline's parent business, has set aside $37 billion to help Riyadh Air and the kingdom's aviation industry as a whole. This project contributes to Saudi Arabia's goal of raising aviation cargo capacity to 4.5 million tons by 2030 and increasing passenger traffic from 100 million to 330 million per year.
In addition to giving local recruiting priority, Riyadh Air is aiming to hire individuals from around the world to contribute their skills to the kingdom. High-profile professionals have already been drawn to the airline to run its operations, including Peter Bellew, a former Ryanair CEO.
By combining local expertise with international industry standards, this well-rounded strategy seeks to allow Riyadh Air to compete with regional heavyweights like Emirates and Qatar Airways.
Interest in Riyadh Air is growing both domestically in Saudi Arabia and abroad as recruitment efforts pick up speed. Particularly among Saudi citizens, the airline is a source of pride and a representation of the development of the kingdom.
Riyadh Air is positioned to become a key component of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 thanks to its strategic emphasis on innovation, sustainability, and the development of local talent.
