Riyadh Air has unveiled the cabin design for its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, shared with Simple Flying that the cabins are expected to offer “a new standard of luxury” when they launch later this year. The aircraft features three different cabins, including a business class cabin with a mini-premium business section.
Riyadh Air, founded in 2023, aims to become Saudi Arabia’s flagship carrier. The airline has spent the past two years gradually revealing its plans, with major announcements still anticipated about its route network and inaugural flights.
At the front of the Boeing 787, the business class cabin will accommodate 28 Safran Unity seats, each enhanced with Riyadh Air branding and a unique design. Douglas emphasized that these seats would also include large tables similar to those in Singapore Airlines’ first class. Business suites will feature 22-inch 4K OLED Panasonic Astrova screens, and Euphony’s directional speakers in the headrests to offer personal audio experiences. According to Douglas, these features “take the experience to the next level.”
The first row, or Business Elite, will offer four seats with extra space and the option to convert into a double bed. These will also feature larger, 32-inch 4K OLED screens. Although the pricing for this new section has not been finalized, Douglas mentioned, “There will be a premium [price], but… it will probably be better than a number of other people’s first [class].”
Riyadh Air’s premium economy section will include the RECARO PL3530 seat, which can also be found on Emirates’ aircraft. With a 2-3-2 configuration and a 15.6-inch 4K OLED screen, the airline has customized the seats for an enhanced appearance. “Certainly not with that detail… For many, we’d like to think they’ll walk in there and say ‘This must be the business class cabin,'” Douglas noted.
The economy cabin comprises 223 RECARO R3 seats in a 3-3-3 layout, with 13.4-inch 4K OLED screens. “We’ve taken the Recaro R3 product, which we think is the most comfortable seat out there,” Douglas said. The economy seats will be consistent with those on Riyadh Air’s upcoming Airbus A321neos and A321LRs.
In total, the Boeing 787 will host 290 seats. Riyadh Air aims to present a unified cabin experience across different sections, avoiding the disconnect observed in other airlines. Douglas remarked, “never say never” regarding the future possibility of a first-class segment, as Riyadh Air is considering acquiring Airbus A350 or Boeing 777X aircraft for this purpose.
Apart from the Boeing 787, Riyadh Air is set to receive Airbus A321neos and A321LR jets. While the economy seats will match those on the Dreamliner, Douglas shared that the A321’s business class will be adapted for different travel distances, featuring both reclined and full lie-flat seats.
