Riyadh Air

[leesionn]

It doesn't appear the UAE gave a clear reason as to why.

Saudia and Riyadh Air are both government-owned.

If the government wanted to shift a slot from Saudia to Riyadh, would the UAE let them? If not, it's not about capacity, but who is providing it, which might give some insight into how much of a threat the UAE fears Riyadh Air could be to their carriers.

I think a lot of Riyadh Air’s (initial) destinations are slots transferred from Saudia as the latter relocates to Jeddah as Riyadh Air grows.

I imagine the UAE are probably concerned about Riyadh Air, and also I don’t think the UAE and Saudi Arabia have been the best of friends lately too

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

I think a lot of Riyadh Air’s (initial) destinations are slots transferred from Saudia as the latter relocates to Jeddah as Riyadh Air grows.

I imagine the UAE are probably concerned about Riyadh Air, and also I don’t think the UAE and Saudi Arabia have been the best of friends lately too

If the request was to transfer existing Saudia slots to Riyadh and that was rejected, that indeed tells the story. If they were requests for new slots, I'd still be curious as to whether they'd have any better luck transferring from Saudia. I still wonder what's to become of Saudia in the future...

Agree they're likely concerned about Riyadh Air and while relations have been complicated, overall they've improved a lot in the last few years despite the current Iran situation, so while it's just speculative, I do suspect it has more to do with the hype around Riyadh Air than a general, geopolitical snub aimed at Riyadh itself.

 

[leesionn]

Interview with Tony Douglas from around 3 minutes he’s said they expect 3 more 787s by end of June, 2 more in July (bringing them to 8 total), a rate of one per month from August and their first A321neo from late this year with 22 destinations by March.

 

[OZDUCK]

A TR about the first flight by Riyadh Air. Not one especially to my taste and as my wife said, it seems like a 'sponsored' report in some places. However you do get a good look at their lounge in Riyadh. The onboard J product looks pretty good and the little bit of food shown seems good as well.

 

[Layslow]

A TR about the first flight by Riyadh Air. Not one especially to my taste and as my wife said, it seems like a 'sponsored' report in some places. However you do get a good look at their lounge in Riyadh. The onboard J product looks pretty good and the little bit of food shown seems good as well.

It has to be sponsored content - and without the requisite disclosures. This is typical of the nonesense that comes out of the middle east. Just terrible. They honestly play everyone for idiots.

 

[elanshin]

Another review

 

[elanshin]

Very interesting takeaway from Dan after his second video (PE + J on the return).

Seems like his takeaway is that it's visually excellent product and likely a good soft product to go with it. But the configuration and choices made here indicate they're not going for the full glam approach EK, QR and EY did with some of their flagship products. They're very good, but maybe not out for blood on the ME3.

Still definitely intrigued and will see what opportunities there are to fly them in the future.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I think a lot of Riyadh Air’s (initial) destinations are slots transferred from Saudia as the latter relocates to Jeddah as Riyadh Air grows.

I imagine the UAE are probably concerned about Riyadh Air, and also I don’t think the UAE and Saudi Arabia have been the best of friends lately too

I doubt EK or QR cares, as they are strong brands with excellent products.

Etihad, which was once called "the worlds most irrelevant airline" should be concerned.
And after looking through the initial reviews... it does look like Etihad 2.0

 

[elanshin]

I doubt EK or QR cares, as they are strong brands with excellent products.

Etihad, which was once called "the worlds most irrelevant airline" should be concerned.
And after looking through the initial reviews... it does look like Etihad 2.0

Honestly it looks like a lot of other Saudi projects right now. Lots of ambitious lofty initial goals that are supposed to shock the world then a slightly muted and more practical actual project.

EK and QR did indeed care a lot before. For one both airlines carry a lot of Saudi that are reasonably well off and RX could easily have replicated their playbooks as well with a wealthier state backing them up.

But yes now looking at it, they may both breath a bit more - at least until we see if this trend continues on other aircraft types.

 

[OZDUCK]

Having now finished both reviews it would seem that if Dan had been sponsored he didn't sing the company tune. As others said he was very complimentary about the look of the cabin, the onboard experience delivered by the cabin crew and the food he was served. However the fact that he felt both the Y & PE seats were tight and somewhat uncomfortable was not good. The J seat, again, looked fine but seemed to be a pretty tight fit for him especially for legroom when in a seated position. I am bigger, both in circumference and height, than him and I don't think that I would find it very comfortable - for a J seat anyway. Those speakers in the headrest seem to be a very poor idea unless you simply can't wear headphones.

I had been interested about this airline as the lack of alcohol doesn't worry me. I do drink it but would normally have a glass or two of wine and maybe a beer so it is not a huge loss for me. But as he indicated it doesn't seem to have tied up with what it was claimed it was going to be when it was launched.

 

[dajop]

. However the fact that he felt both the Y & PE seats were tight and somewhat uncomfortable was not good.

I don't think he's the right person for me to take any judgement on Y from.

I'd be more inclined to see what for example, SimplyAviation has to say when they get to review Riyadh air. They have a much higher proportion of economy flights in their library of reviews than Josh does.

 

[OZDUCK]

I don't think he's the right person for me to take any judgement on Y from.

I'd be more inclined to see what for example, SimplyAviation has to say when they get to review Riyadh air. They have a much higher proportion of economy flights in their library of reviews than Josh does.

I am more disinclined to take little note his reviews of the food offerings as he is a vegan so doesn't cover a lot of the foods I like.