Saudi Arabia's New National Airline - Riyadh Air Takes Flight

Riyadh Air made its international debut at the Paris Airshow with a striking purple Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The new airline has plans to carry more than 100 million passengers with a network of more than 100 destinations by the end of the decade.

It placed a large order with Boeing for 787-9 Dreamliner jets in March, with 39 confirmed orders and 33 options. The airline CEO Tony Douglas recently said more orders for planes were being discussed with manufacturers. The airline is targeting the launch of its first commercial services in 2025.

CEO Tony Douglas has mentioned it plans to focus on the needs of the Saudi market rather than trying to compete with its bigger rivals like Emirates and Qatar Airways.