Riyadh Air, Owned by PIF, Receives IATA Designator Code

Saudi Arabia’s new airline, Riyadh Air, has secured the “RX” designator code from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), marking a significant milestone as it prepares to launch operations. CEO Tony Douglas announced the news at the IATA’s 79th annual general meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, stating that the code reflects the airline’s ambition to be a digitally led carrier with state-of-the-art technology. The airline also unveiled the first of two liveries it will deploy as it prepares for its launch in 2025. Owned by the Public Investment Fund, Riyadh Air aims to transform the Kingdom’s capital into a global hub for travel and trade, leveraging Saudi Arabia’s strategic positioning to link Asia, Africa and Europe. The airline confirmed an order of 72 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners in March and is expected to order another 150 Boeing 737 Max soon. It is anticipated that the initiative will create over 200,000 job opportunities, both directly and indirectly, stimulating economic growth and diversification in the Kingdom.