Riyadh Air secures unprecedented number of airport slots

Ayman Zaid/Alamy via Reuters

• 2,500 flight slots at King Khalid airport
• Demand may not justify capacity
• Saudi Arabia wants 330m passengers

Riyadh Air has secured more than 2,500 slots at Riyadh King Khalid International Airport, positioning itself as the fourth-largest carrier at the capital’s main gateway as it prepares to launch operations in the summer 2025 season, according to filings by Airport Coordination Limited.

The allocation marks a striking start for the state-backed carrier, which aims to rival regional giants Emirates and Qatar Airways.

“Compared to competitors, Riyadh Air’s slot allocation is unprecedented for a startup airline,” Linus Benjamin Bauer, managing director of Singapore-based aviation consultancy company BAA & Partners, tells AGBI. 

“Emirates and Qatar Airways have built their networks gradually over decades, centered on their hubs in Dubai and Doha, respectively. This slot acquisition suggests a clear ambition to position Riyadh as a rival to Dubai and Doha, leveraging Saudi Arabia’s geographic location and economic resources to create a new global connecting hub.”

Riyadh Air’s allocation accounts for 2 percent of total flight movements at King Khalid International, trailing market leader Saudia, which commands around 51 percent. 

The airline also secured 702 slots at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport. 

It has yet to request slots at major international hubs such as Dubai International or London Heathrow.

Andrew Charlton, Geneva-based managing director of Aviation Advocacy, says current organic demand in the region may not fully justify the scale of Riyadh Air’s capacity, especially given the proximity of other well-established flight centres such as Dubai and Doha.

“It will have to compete on service, schedules, destinations, and the quality of Riyadh Airport to handle the traffic,” he says.

“The other airports in the region are very good, so that will be an interesting battle. The question is actually is there a market for another full-service carrier in the region and that is the very challenge all airline managements have to face.”

Riyadh Air

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic diversification plan aims to treble annual passenger traffic to 330 million by the end of the decade. 

Bauer says Riyadh Air’s strategy appears to target long-haul and connecting traffic as Saudia already operates significant capacity domestically and regionally: “King Khalid International has undergone significant upgrades, but handling such a substantial increase will require further investments in terminals, runways and passenger services. 

“Challenges such as congestion, turnaround times and passenger processing could emerge if growth outpaces infrastructure readiness.”

AGBI columnist John Grant, partner at UK consultancy Midas Aviation, says Riyadh Air will hope to create demand by attracting new passengers from other airlines and through stimulating the market with new routes and some aggressive pricing in the early stages.

Government backing is expected to play a critical role in the airline’s initial growth. 

“Undoubtedly, there will be a need for support, but that is the same for any airline in its launch phases,” Grant says. “This is a Saudi PIF project, so they will secure all the support they need.”

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Riyadh Air’s ambitions include reaching 100 international cities by 2030 and differentiating itself with a one-stop digital platform similar to Expedia and a broader frequent flyer programme. 

The airline has placed significant orders, including 60 Airbus A321neo jets announced earlier this month and 39 Boeing Dreamliners last year, with options for 33 more.

CEO Tony Douglas has said the lack of global connectivity from Saudi Arabia is “simply not good enough”: “We don’t fly directly to Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul, or Sydney. It’s simply unacceptable. Saudi Arabia is losing business opportunities to its Gulf neighbors.”

Douglas noted that many Saudi nationals account for the highest volume of premium-class travelers on Qatar Airways. 

“It’s just wrong,” the former Etihad CEO said.

Bauer called Riyadh Air’s “ambitious” but cautions: “While the potential is immense, realising it will depend on precise execution, demand stimulation and fair regulatory practices.”