As this year’s Dubai Airshow kicks off, Middle Eastern newcomer Riyadh Air has unveiled the second of two liveries that will adorn the exteriors of its future fleet.
The unveiling of the carrier’s first Boeing 787 Dreamliner back in June 2023 saw the airline’s first brand-new aircraft’s exterior feature an eye-catching indigo and lavender overall colour scheme.
However, this second new livery revealed by the company is somewhat more understated than the first. The latest design features white as the predominant colour but employs the same lavender and indigo design across the rear fuselage as the earlier scheme.
“The latest livery continues Riyadh Air’s indigo theme with striking lines inspired by the twisting canopies of traditional Bedouin tents and elegant curves of Arabic calligraphy>” Riyadh Air noted in a statement issued at the start of the 2023 Dubai Airshow.
“The bold new look features a sweeping cockpit window design, with the indigo signature theme contrasted beautifully against a light, unique, iridescent fuselage that reflects purity and the future-focused vision of Saudi Arabia.”
The front portion of the new all-white fuselage features billboard-style titles featuring the airline’s name in Arabic, with smaller ‘Riyadh Air’ titles displayed in English underneath. On the port side, the wording order is reversed, with the Arabic titles appearing under the English.
Another feature of the newer scheme that is not replicated on the lavender-overall livery is that of a “racoon-style” mask wrapping around the cockpit windows – a style motif that has become popular among various airlines in recent times.
While the carrier’s overall indigo scheme took the airline world by storm and attracted much praise when it was first unveiled at the Paris Air Show back in June 2023, this second scheme is more aimed at practicality over captivation. White schemes are lighter than heavier colors and fade slower, requiring less frequent repaints.
Revealing the new scheme in Dubai, Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas said: “The second livery is another statement of intent. 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.”
Douglas continued: “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 reveal to global acclaim, announced fleet orders for our widebody 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.”
More to come from Riyadh Air in Dubai
At this week’s Dubai Airshow, Riyadh Air is not only showcasing its latest livery design, but the airline is also expected to place a sizeable order for new short- to medium-haul aircraft to expand its fleet and future route network.
The company is rumoured to be planning to announce a deal for up to 100 Boeing 737 MAX for this purpose. Although the final scale of the deal might be split between firm orders and options, negotiations are thought to have been concluded some time ago, leaving the companies free to make the announcement in Dubai.
Riyadh Air currently has firm orders for 39 Boeing 787-9s, with the option for a further 33. The carrier intends to begin operations in 2025 and is planning to serve more than 100 destinations from Saudi Arabia’s capital city, Riyadh, by 2030.