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New Delhi: Saudi Arabia’s new airline, Riyadh Air, is set to launch operations this year and is exploring potential partnerships with Air India and IndiGo to strengthen its presence in the Indian market, according to a report by news agency.
Speaking on Wednesday (March 12), Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas emphasized the importance of the Indian subcontinent for the airline. He also confirmed ongoing discussions with Boeing and Airbus to expand the fleet with wide-body aircraft, including the Boeing 777X and Airbus A350-1000.
The airline plans to start with a fleet of 60 narrow-body A321 neos and 72 wide-body B787-9 Dreamliners. It aims to connect Saudi Arabia to over 100 global destinations by 2030.
India is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world. Last year, around 1.5 million tourists from India visited Saudi Arabia, and the numbers are increasing.
Riyadh Air has ambitious expansion plans and will operate a mix of wide-body and narrow-body aircraft to serve its passengers efficiently. In 2024, Riyadh Air and Delta Air Lines agreed to work together to offer flights between the US and Saudi Arabia.
In March last year, Riyadh Air and the national airline, Saudia, ordered 78 planes from Boeing, with the option to buy 43 more.
-B
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