NEW DELHI: Indian aviation professionals are showing strong interest in joining Saudi Arabia’s upcoming second national carrier, Riyadh Air. The airline’s career portal has been open for two years, receiving 1.4 million applications from 146 nationalities, with India being a major source. Notably, 52% of applicants are women, despite no salary details being announced yet, CEO Tony Douglas shared on Wednesday.
Riyadh Air has ordered up to 132 aircraft, including Airbus A321neos and Boeing 787 Dreamliners, and is considering ultra-long-range wide-body jets. The airline currently operates one aircraft with 500 employees, where Indians make up the second-largest workforce after Saudis.
With India being a key market, Saudi Arabia welcomed 1.5 million Indian tourists in 2024—a 50% rise from the previous year. Riyadh Air plans to leverage Saudi Arabia’s underutilized flying rights with India, aiming for stronger connectivity. The airline is in talks with IndiGo and Air India for potential partnerships and is engaging with Indian aviation authorities for necessary approvals.
Douglas emphasized India’s importance, stating that Riyadh Air’s network will foster deeper economic and tourism ties between the two nations, boosting opportunities on both sides.
