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Tony Douglas, CEO of Saudi Kingdom’s new national airline Riyadh Air, said that India is one of the “most important markets in the world” and that they “can't wait to fully serve the citizens of India.” But, he added, that the luxury could only be experienced by people “who are travelling from Riyadh or through Riyadh.”
Douglas, in an exclusive chat with Times Network at the FII8 forum on Day 2 of the three-day event, said India was on “top of the list”, as Riyadh Air is expanding its fleet and redefining luxury onboard.
Saudi Arabia's newest airline Riyadh Air placed an order for 60 Airbus narrow body A321-family jets as it prepares to start operations in 2025. The deal, signed at the Future Investment Initiative forum in Riyadh, brings to 132 the total number of jets ordered by the Saudi startup, which last year ordered 39 Boeing 787 Dreamliners with options for 33 more.
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Elaborating on the two big developments at Riyadh Air, CEO Douglas said,”… Been a very, very special day for us today…”
‘Small Step For Man. Giant Leap For Us’
“The world's first digital reveal of what modern aviation looks like when it comes to guest experience. Small step for man. Giant leap for us,” all excited Douglas said, adding that “it was almost like the Steve Jobs moment back in the day when iPhone was first revealed.”
He also spoke about the big aircraft order by Riyadh Air for 60 Airbus narrow body A321-family, as it prepares to start operations in 2025.
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“We're absolutely delighted with that,“ he said.
What Brand Riyadh Stands For
When asked how Riyadh Air was a differentiator in the cluttered aviation industry, the airline CEO elaborated on “the three things that the brand Riyadh stands for”. First, having an “obsessional attention to detail with guest experience”, Second, an “environmental sustainability thought leader”.
About the third differentiating factor on Brand Riyadh, he said, “the point I made before with the first reveal is a true digital native. We've got a populace here where the average age is below 30. It's got the highest iOS usage per capita in the world. It hasn't evolved the same way in commercial aviation.”
“And because we don't have legacy systems, we've worked on delivering a whole new experience. Think more in common with Uber, think more in common with the way in which Amazon or Noon.com works…It goes into the shopping basket,” he explained.
“It makes it easier for people who are familiar with that phone that you've got in your hand,” he quipped.
How Riyadh Air Will Redefine Luxury
Elaborating on the luxury quotient of Riyadh Air, Douglas said, “I think you've only got to look at delivery on the outside of our aircraft… I would encourage anybody, go online and Google on Mr Internet, Riyadh in-cabin fashion, glamour, beauty, refinement.”
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“We launched it at Paris fashion week. No other airline has ever done that. We're talking about full service, refined, high quality brands because it's the Kingdom's new carrier,” he said, adding that “of course, the brand is Riyadh.”
The three-day 8th annual Future Investment Initiative (FII) forum kickstarted on October 29 at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, where global leaders, visionary innovators, and influential investors have gathered to explore the theme “Infinite Horizons: Investing Today, Shaping Tomorrow.”