Riyadh Air Launches it’s 787 Business Class

The skies are about to welcome a new contender in luxury air travel: Riyadh Air. As Saudi Arabia’s newest carrier gears up for its first takeoff in 2025, it’s already turning heads with the reveal of its stunning new Business Class suites aboard the Boeing 787. 

Who are Riyadh Air?

You are most certainly forgiven for having never heard of this airline before now. Riyadh Air launched back in March 2023, and is a start-up backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, and the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman. Short goal is to get this product in the air by the end of the year. Long term plan, serving over 100 destinations by 2030, with the hopes to rival the other big Middle-East hard hitters of Qatar, Etihad and of course Emirates. 

The Product

At present, Riyadh Air is a three-class airline, featuring your usual Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins. On the Boeing 787 First Class will not exist, however the plan later down the line is to move into the extra-wide-body category of plane, for instance the 777X, and that is when First Class will appear. 

Riyadh Air Launches it's 787 Business Class

Riyadh Air Launches it's 787 Business Class. Whilst they may not have a First Class cabin yet, they have introduced Business Elite. The front row of the business class cabin sees extra space for each of the seats, laid out in the best configuration of business class seats, the humble 1-2-1. 

The rest of the cabin, all 24 seats, are arranged in a staggered, forward-facing configuration. If you are a real seat nerd, it’s based on the Safran Unity seat. The central seats will alternate between seats by the door, and the classic “honeymoon” style ones right by the central partition. Regardless of where you are sat there will of course be a sliding door for full privacy.  

If booking a business class seat you will get to enjoy a bed of 198cm in length, and a seat width of 57cm. The screen is 22”, with 4K OLED Tech and Bluetooth pairing. Something new and exciting though are the built-in speakers within the headrest, so gone are the days of headphones on this airline. Mains charging, one USB-A port and two USB-C ports also feature within the space to satisfy all of your power needs.

Perhaps most striking is the attention to detail. Accents of mocha gold highlight the seat trims, echoing the airline’s branding and giving a warm, luxurious feel. Center suites include retractable privacy panels, which can be lowered to create a shared space.

Premium Economy That Deserves the Name

As only the second middle-eastern carrier to provide a Premium Economy Cabin alongside Emirates, they have firmly put themselves ahead of the likes of Qatar and Etihad in offering this  product. 

With a 2-3-2 configuration in play in this cabin, Riyadh Air’s thought process was clearly “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” as it is the exact same seat used on Emirates, in the form of the RECARO PL3530. Naturally in a much nicer colour way, but that could just be my taste! The seat also comes with a calf rest, which is always delightful on a longer trip. 

With 39 seats in this class, it’s going to be a great option for those who want a little more space than economy, but Business just isn’t necessary. Sometimes referred to as “Business-minus,” these seats don’t lie flat, but they offer enhanced recline, generous pitch, premium upholstery, and elevated meal service that positions them ahead of the typical Economy experience.

An Economy Product To Be Experienced

The first to note when it comes to Riyadh Air’s economy cabin is their decision to go with a 3-3-3 configuration. The seat has a 31” pitch (not bad) and 17.2” width (also not awful) means that this seat should in theory be pretty comfortable. Featuring a 13.4” Panasonic Astrova 4K OLED screen, films and TV programmes should look exceptionally good. 

One thing I particularly like about the whole of this design is that unlike some airlines that use different colour palettes across different cabins, Riyadh Air have made the decision to use the same one in all three cabins. Personally I think that this makes for a streamlined, branded look that gives out the subliminal messaging of “even if you are in economy, you get to feel that business class luxury.” Sure, you don’t get the same amount of seat room, but by elevating the product with the same materials, colours and designs as used in business class it uplifts the whole space into something a little more decadent.

The Bigger Picture

Riyadh Air isn’t just another airline—it’s a central pillar of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a national initiative aimed at diversifying the economy and boosting tourism. The airline seeks to make Riyadh a key global hub, connecting passengers to over 100 destinations by the end of the decade.

This ambition is mirrored in the airline’s cabin design. It’s not just about flying people from Point A to Point B; it’s about giving them a reason to choose Riyadh as the center of their journey.

Final Thoughts

If the execution matches the promise, passengers around the world may soon be recalibrating their expectations of what flying should look and feel like. Regardless of whether you fly in the business cabin, which of course we all dream of, or the Economy cabin, which personally I would definitely choose over others out there!

It remains to be seen what the offering on board will be. Whether alcohol will be served, as currently Saudia do not serve it, and what the food will be like also. No doub all will be revealed as we get clsoer to their inaugural flight.

Helena