The second national carrier of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh Air, launched operations with its first flight after more than a year of delays on Wednesday, defying the economic turmoil after the start of the war in the Middle East and intense competition from established Gulf airlines.
A London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Riyadh Air's white and lavender livery took off at 2:30 a.m. (11:30 p.m. GMT Tuesday), putting in motion a flagship project in Saudi Arabia's push to reduce its economic reliance on oil.
Riyadh Air, the country's second state-owned airline after Jeddah-based Saudia, is meant to help turn the Saudi capital into a global hub to rival Dubai, the world's busiest for international passengers.
"We want to bring glamour, we want to bring refinement, we want to bring grace back," Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The launch, originally planned for 2025, was set back by delivery delays from Boeing, which has suffered a series of manufacturing and safety problems in recent years.
