Riyadh Air – Saudi Arabia‘s slick up-and-coming airline – has unveiled the first of the two liveries it will debut across its fleet. Announced back in March, the newly announced airline Riyadh Air is set to launch flights in 2025, upgrading the Kingdom’s flight operations from the capital with 100 destinations on the cards by 2030.

With the orders placed for 72 Boeing 787-9s for its upcoming fleet, Riyadh Air has unveiled the first of the two liveries its new fleet will display, and it’s already set to be one of the world’s most attractive fleets.

Riyadh Air announced the news on its social media channels, debuting the shiny new purple design. The design features a deep hue of slick purple on the fuselage with an intricate purple-hued motif and Riyadh Air printed in elegant white calligraphy, along with its name in Arabic. The design also features a sophisticated lilac tail with Riyadh Air’s striking new logo. Riyadh Air’s design goes against the grain of many global airlines, who often opt for a white design with all attention on their blog logos and lettering.

Riyadh Air livery

Riyadh Air’s livery is inspired by the lavender blossoms that carpet Saudi Arabia, with the colour also representative of Saudi generosity or authentic hospitality, says the airline on their new website.

‘I honestly believe that this will surprise a lot of people. This is super-sophisticated, this is elegant, this glamorous, that is a modernistic twist, and this is a statement of visual identity that means we will put a brand story to this,’ said Riyadh Air chief executive Tony Douglas speaking to FlightGlobal at the IATA AGM in Istanbul. Not content with just one, Saudi Arabia will unveil the second Air Riyadh livery later this year – undoubtedly another attractive and bold design.

Riyadh Air was announced in March 2023, setting a new standard for air travel to and from the Kingdom and taking Saudi Arabia into its Vision 2030 goals. The airline sets out to embody the spirit and feel of the dynamic and ever-evolving Saudi capital, with inspiration from the landscapes, culture, hospitality and the pioneering spirit behind Vision 2030.

The airline is set to launch in 2025 and offers over flights to and from 100 destinations from its Riyadh base, creating 200,000 jobs and directly contributing to Saudi’s goal of tripling annual travellers to 330 million by 2030.

‘Riyadh Air will be a digitally native airline driven by a pioneering spirit with an obsessive focus on attention to detail and innovation at its heart. We aim to permanently transcend our guests’ perceptions and experiences of flying in the modern world,’ added the CEO in a statement on the launch. ‘The new airline comes at a pivotal moment for Saudi Arabia, as it realises the ambitious goals of Vision 2030. We are privileged to play an active role in showcasing Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural heritage and stunning natural attractions to tourists from around the world.’