Riyadh Air Unveils Stunning B787-9 Cabin Interior Ahead Of Launch

Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's ambitious new national carrier, has unveiled the interiors of its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet, signalling a bold entry into the premium aviation market. Established in March 2023 and backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), Riyadh Air aims to transform the Kingdom's aviation landscape as part of the Vision 2030 initiative. The airline plans to commence operations in the fourth quarter of 2025, positioning itself as a, full-service airline with a focus on luxury and innovation.

With the unveiling of their Boeing 787-9 cabin design, the startup airline aims to set new benchmarks for premium air travel.

Riyadh Air B787-9 Business Class

At the front of the aircraft, Riyadh Air introduces "Business Elite," featuring four exclusive seats arranged in a spacious 1-2-1 configuration. Each Safran Unity Elite seat transforms into a fully flat bed measuring 78 inches long and 22.5 inches wide. Notably, passengers will enjoy the privacy of 52-inch-high walls and sliding doors. But the real star here is the enormous 32-inch 4K OLED entertainment screen—the largest in business class today.

The remaining business cabin boasts 24 Safran Unity seats, also arranged in a 1-2-1 layout, maintaining the same bed length, seat width, and privacy standards, accompanied by a still-impressive 22-inch screen.

A unique touch in Business Elite is the centre double bed option, reminiscent of Qatar Airways' popular QSuite. This feature allows couples traveling together to enjoy enhanced comfort and privacy.

Riyadh Air Premium Economy

Moving back, the premium economy section hosts 39 Recaro PL3530 seats arranged in a comfortable 2-3-2 configuration. These seats offer an ample 38-inch pitch and 19.2-inch width, alongside generous 15.6-inch 4K OLED screens. Interestingly, while the seat model is the same used by Emirates, Riyadh Air has introduced significant customisations, resulting in a visually distinct and rather good looking product. Added comforts include privacy head wings, expandable side tables, calf rests, and USB-C charging points.

Riyadh Air Economy Class

Economy class passengers haven't been overlooked, with 223 ergonomically-designed Recaro R3 seats laid out in a standard 3-3-3 configuration. These seats feature a 31-inch pitch and 17.2-inch width, enhanced by 13.4-inch 4K OLED screens, adjustable headrests, and USB-C charging. Thoughtfully selected plush fabrics and ergonomically crafted foam should ensure comfort, even on extended journeys. For those paying attention, you would have noticed that the material selection and stitching is identical to the business class suites, offering a cohesive design language throughout the entire airplane.

Design & Technology

Riyadh Air's attention to detail extends beyond seating. The cabin interiors blend Saudi heritage with contemporary luxury, incorporating rich mocha gold accents, subtle lavender tones, and veined stone elements. Advanced lighting technology adjusts subtly during the flight to support passengers' natural rhythms, enhancing comfort and reducing jet lag.

Additionally, Riyadh Air is introducing groundbreaking audio technology through a partnership with French audio innovator Devialet. Integrated speakers in the headrests in both Business Elite and Business classes deliver immersive, high-fidelity sound, removing the need for headphones entirely, similar to what you can find onboard the new Japan Airlines A350-1000 business class seats. This unique innovation sets a new industry standard for audio entertainment onboard.

Digital Connectivity

True to its identity as a self proclaimed digital-native airline, Riyadh Air offers complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi across all cabins—available from gate-to-gate for passengers enrolled in the airline's loyalty program. Passengers can enjoy seamless streaming, browsing, and gaming, as well as live TV broadcasts, thanks to the partnership with Viasat.

What’s Next for Riyadh Air?

With these cabin designs, Riyadh Air has clearly signalled its ambition to deliver a market-leading travel experience. CEO Tony Douglas emphasised that every element—from seat ergonomics to advanced onboard technology—has been thoughtfully chosen to elevate passenger comfort and satisfaction.

Set to launch later in 2025, Riyadh Air's Boeing 787-9 cabins reflect a strong vision of luxury travel and digital innovation, promising stiff competition to existing premium carriers. Travellers keen to experience these stunning new cabins won't have long to wait, with flight schedules and destinations expected to be announced in the coming months. For some the most important questions now remains: will Riyadh Air launch as a dry airline or will we see a modification to the rules so they can live up to their premium airline title?