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Riyadh Air unveils cabin and business class setup for its Boeing 787-9 aircraft

Riyadh Air unveils cabin and business class setup for its Boeing 787-9 aircraft
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Becky Blaine Senior editor | The Points Guy

Riyadh Air, a startup airline based in Saudi Arabia, has revealed the cabin configuration and seating arrangement for its long-haul Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The airline plans to operate a three-cabin layout that includes business class, premium economy, and coach, with a total capacity of 290 passengers.

In addition to the standard configuration, Riyadh Air has unveiled plans for a limited number of extra-spacious business-class suites at the front of its planes. These suites are designed to bridge the gap between business class and first class, a trend seen in major international airlines.

The unveiling of the cabin and seating arrangements marks a significant step toward Riyadh Air's goal of launching operations later this year. The airline recently secured its operating license from Saudi regulators. It has placed firm orders or options for 72 Boeing Dreamliners and established partnerships with major airlines such as Delta Air Lines, Singapore Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic.

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For its business-class cabins, Riyadh Air will feature 28 seats, including 24 lie-flat suites with privacy doors and four "Business Elite" suites, which are positioned as a step above the standard premium offering. The standard business-class suites utilize the "Unity" product from French seatmaker Safran, a model also chosen by Qantas for its Airbus A350-1000 aircraft.

Riyadh's configurations will include custom touches, with each lie-flat bed spanning 78 inches in length and 22.5 inches in width, arranged in a 1-2-1 layout. Two central suites offer retractable privacy dividers for travelers flying together. The four "Business Elite" suites will be equipped with 32-inch monitors and advanced inflight entertainment systems.

The airline's premium economy area will consist of 39 seats in a 2-3-2 layout, each equipped with 15.6-inch seatback screens and USB-C charging ports. The 223-seat coach cabin follows a 3-3-3 configuration typical of the 787.

Riyadh's Dreamliners will also feature free high-speed Wi-Fi provided by Viasat, alongside other inflight tech offerings. CEO Tony Douglas stated, "Riyadh Air has always promised to deliver a world-class experience for our guests and the unveiling of our cabin interiors makes this ambition a reality."

With financial support from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Riyadh Air aims to establish itself as a premium competitor alongside carriers such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad in the Persian Gulf region.

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