Tuesday, June 18, 2024 Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding aviation sector is set to reach new heights with the launch of Riyadh Air, the kingdom’s second national airline. As part of its preparatory phase, Riyadh Air will commence test flights in October 2024, with Kuala Lumpur as one of its key destinations. This move underscores the airline’s strategic focus on Southeast Asia, a region increasingly connected with Saudi Arabia through both business and leisure travel.
Peter Bellew, Riyadh Air’s Chief Operating Officer, revealed in an exclusive interview that the test flight to Kuala Lumpur will utilize a leased Boeing B787-9 Dreamliner powered by a General Electric engine. This aircraft will make a significant stop at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1. Although the flight will only carry the airline’s crew and regulatory inspectors from Saudi Arabia, it marks a significant step toward establishing regular direct flights to Kuala Lumpur.
“We’ll operate there (Kuala Lumpur) and back (as part of the test flight). The only people that we’re allowed to carry are our own crew and some inspectors from the regulator in Saudi Arabia,” said Bellew. “But it shows that we do plan to go to Kuala Lumpur.
We wouldn’t be going to Kuala Lumpur for a test flight if we didn’t plan to operate a direct route there in the future.” Kuala Lumpur will be the farthest destination Riyadh Air reaches during its test flight program, emphasizing its commitment t.
