Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new airline wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), set to be operational in 2025, unveiled the second of its permanent dual-livery designs at the Dubai Airshow 2023, said a statement from the airline on Monday.
The latest livery continues Riyadh Air’s indigo theme with striking lines, inspired by the twisting canopies of traditional Bedouin tents and curves of Arabic calligraphy.
"The bold new look features a sweeping cockpit window design, with the indigo signature theme contrasted beautifully against a light unique iridescent fuselage, reflecting purity and the future-focused vision of Saudi Arabia," said the statement.
In June this year, Riyadh Air unveiled its first livery at the Paris Airshow, having previously received its IATA Airline Designator Code (RX), and having signed a major deal for 90 GEnx engines to power its fleet, following an order of up to 72 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, made in March.
According to the release, the second livery will see Riyadh Air aircraft adorned in a lavender and indigo paint, featuring a feather-like design near the rear of the fuselage, with "Riyadh Air" written in English and Arabic and the airline’s trademark logo on the tail, engines and underbelly of the aircraft.
The second livery reflects Saudi Arabia’s forward-thinking ambitions; "using iridescent color to add a modern twist" to the design and the intricate bold text makes Riyadh Air recognizable, whether on the ground or in the skies, said the release.
Riyadh Air is set to fly to more than 100 destinations, and "will contribute to Saudi Arabia’s non-oil GDP growth by $20 billion, directly and indirectly creating over 200,000 new jobs globally and locally", added the statement.
Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas said: "As the largest start-up in commercial aviation in decades, we are delighted to unveil to the world Riyadh Air’s second livery, which will be unmistakable when it takes to the skies in 2025, as we become one of the first international carriers to have permanent dual-liveries on an active fleet."
"Following our initial launch in March, we have had exceptional progress hitting a number of major milestones for the brand through an obsessive eye for detail, digital-native mindset and commitment to embracing the industry’s sustainability best practices. We revealed our first livery to global acclaim, announced fleet orders for our wide-body aircraft and signed several ground-breaking new partnerships. This iconic second livery is the latest milestone for Riyadh Air as we shape and disrupt the future of air travel and aviation, with many more things to come," he continued.
Alongside the unveiling of the latest livery design, Riyadh Air will be hosting guests, partners, stakeholders and VIPs at its pavilion at Dubai Airshow. The digital-first experience will showcase more about Riyadh Air’s ambitions and future plans "as it ushers in a new era for the travel and aviation industry, unlocking Saudi Arabia’s cultural and natural attractions and positioning the Kingdom as a world-class logistics and travel hub."
Other highlights at Riyadh Air’s Dubai Airshow include the signing of a memorandum of understanding in a first partnership between luxury EV manufacturer Lucid Group and Riyadh Air that is "aligned to a shared vision for the future of sustainable transportation exploring the collaboration across co-marketing, commercial and operational streams for targeted guests and travelers."
At the Riyadh Air pavilion, two Lucid Air cars are wrapped in the Riyadh Air livery while three mobilized Lucid Air cars will transport visitors to and from the Dubai Airshow. Lucid Air is the longest range, fastest charging and most powerful luxury electric car in the world.
The Dubai Airshow 2023 is taking place from November 13 to 17 at Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). It features over 1,400 exhibitors from 48 countries, along with over 180 of the world’s most advanced commercial, private and military aircraft on display.
