Riyadh Air: Redefining Luxury Travel or All Hype? First Flight Review
Three major airlines in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha are watching a new player very closely. Riyadh Air has launched with some of the biggest funding and hype the industry has ever seen. They promise Pan Am glamour and a “Maybach in the skies.” We flew on their fourth day of public flights to see if they can actually deliver on these big claims.
This was a self-funded trip, so these are completely honest thoughts. We flew the second route ever launched by the airline, going from Riyadh to Jeddah. Since it is a new carrier, we wanted to see if the reality matches the marketing.
Riyadh Air: The Vision and Early Operations
Riyadh Air is not just another airline. It is a key part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. The goal is to turn the kingdom into a global hub for tourism and business. With billions in funding and leadership from the former boss of Etihad, they have the money to try and shake up the market.
King Khaled International Airport Experience
The first thing you notice is the color. The check-in area is decked out in a bright lavender purple. It feels more like a party than a standard airport process. There were even film crews on site making commercials while passengers checked in.
Currently, domestic flights leave from Terminal 4. The Riyadh Air lounge is in Terminal 2, which is the international side. This means domestic flyers have to use contract lounges for now. The airport is fine, but it is smaller than the hubs in Qatar or Dubai. This might be a problem as the airline grows. Luckily, the airport is being totally redone and will eventually be called King Salman International Airport.
The Boeing 787-9 Setup
The airline uses the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. It has a three-class layout. Economy has 223 seats in a 3-3-3 setup. The seat pitch is 31 inches and the width is 17.2 inches. These are standard numbers for this plane.
However, there are two “golden” seats: 25A and 25K. These seats have unlimited legroom. If you can book these, do it. One downside is the lavatory ratio. There are six toilets for about 262 passengers. That is one toilet for every 43 people.
The boarding process felt special. They played high-quality boarding music and gave out water and coconut chocolates. Passengers on this inaugural flight also got a special luggage tag. The crew uniforms are very chic and look exactly like the ones shown at Paris Fashion Week a few years ago.
Economy Class Review: The Foundation of the Experience
The cabin looks beautiful the moment you walk in. The mood lighting makes it feel premium. Instead of a “new plane smell,” the cabin smells like oud.
Seat Comfort and Ergonomics
The seats are supportive, especially the adjustable headrests. They keep your head from flopping to the side. The recline is actually very generous. However, there is a trade-off. When you recline, the seat cushion moves forward. For someone 6’2″, the knee room gets very tight.
The person behind you also suffers. Because the recline is so deep, the screen in front of the passenger behind can end up almost touching their face. It makes working on a laptop very hard.
The tray table is a single layer. It does not extend, but it can hold a tablet. Storage is a bit weak. The double seat pockets are too shallow to hold much.
In-Flight Amenities and Connectivity
The entertainment screens are the best part of the economy cabin. They have a great anti-glare coating and a smooth interface. There is even mood lighting under the screen that makes the whole setup look expensive. It feels like using a high-end iPad.
The movie list is huge. They have tons of Disney classics and TV shows like Friends and The Big Bang Theory. A few things are missing, though. There is no search feature, so you have to scroll through everything. Also, there were no Arabic language options on our flight.
For power, every passenger gets two USB-C ports. The airline offers free Wi-Fi to everyone. While free is great, the speed needs work. It was not as fast as we expected for a “digitally native” airline.
Lavatory and Atmosphere
The bathrooms look like a luxury hotel. They use a material that looks like white marble. The soap is premium, which is rare for economy class.
There are some missing pieces. There is no window in the bathroom. Also, the trash bin does not have a foot pedal, so you have to touch it. The sink is also very tiny, which is a trend in new planes that passengers usually hate.
Premium Economy and Business Class: Elevating the Journey
The flight back to Riyadh allowed us to test the higher cabins. These are where the “Maybach” promises are put to the test.
Premium Economy: A Step Up
Premium economy offers more breathing room. The seats are wider and the recline is more controlled than in economy. The service is a bit more attentive, and the meal presentation is upgraded. It is a solid middle ground for those who want more comfort without the business class price.
Business Class: The Luxury Promise
Business class is where Riyadh Air puts its money. The seats provide a high level of privacy and luxury. The materials feel expensive, and the space is vast. Between the lighting and the seat functions, it feels like a private suite. This is the closest the airline gets to that “Maybach in the skies” feeling.
The dining here is a different level. The courses are served on real china with high-end glassware. The attention to detail in the presentation is meant to compete with the best airlines in the world.
In-Flight Dining and Refreshments
For a short domestic flight of about an hour and 15 minutes, the food was surprisingly fancy.
Economy Meal Service
The breakfast was served in thick metal containers with branded plastic lids. It was a vegetarian meal featuring a cheese sandwich on high-quality bread. Using metal cutlery in economy on such a short flight is a very luxurious touch.
The drink options were simple: apple juice, water, coffee, and tea. We did get mango juice from the galley. They also gave us a lavender-scented warm towel and a lavender-colored plastic cup. These small branding touches make the experience feel more cohesive.
Catering Across Cabins
While economy gets metal cutlery and nice containers, the premium cabins scale this up. The food quality is consistent, but the variety increases. The focus is clearly on presentation and “Instagrammable” moments.
The Verdict: Does Riyadh Air Deliver?
Riyadh Air has a lot of strengths. The aesthetics are top-tier. The mood lighting, the oud scent, and the gorgeous screens create a high-end feel. The entertainment system is one of the smoothest we have ever used. If you can snag seat 25A or 25K, the legroom is a dream.
There are things to fix. The economy seat recline is too aggressive and hurts the person behind. The lack of individual air vents is a big miss for a new premium airline. Logistically, the lounge and terminal split for domestic flights is annoying.
Final Thoughts
Riyadh Air is off to a strong start. They have the look and the tech down perfectly. The cabin feels like the future of flying. While there are some early bugs—like Wi-Fi speed and seat ergonomics—these are things a well-funded airline can fix.
They are not just selling flights; they are selling a brand. If they keep improving the small details, they could actually challenge the big Gulf carriers. For now, it is a stunning experience with a few rough edges. If you get a chance to fly them, do it for the screens and the vibe alone.
