New Saudi Arabian airline Riyadh Air has revealed the details of the carrier’s impressive aircraft cabin interior design, designed by PriestmanGoode design agency.
With the design, Riyadh Air says it is ensuring a consistent product throughout its Boeing 787 fleet, blending luxury and comfort to deliver a unique premium experience. The colours and materials reflect Saudi heritage with attention to detail, unique technology and amenities. “Riyadh Air has always promised to deliver a world- class experience for our guests and the unveiling of our cabin interiors make this ambition a reality,” Tony Douglas, Riyadh Air CEO said.
“The design, layout, and features of our new cabins are carefully crafted to ensure flights are as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. From the ergonomic and luxurious fabrics in the seats to the high-end technology used in the entertainment systems, every facet of the cabins has been chosen to deliver relaxing luxury”.
Ben Rowan, Director at PriestmanGoode commented: “Unlike existing carriers with decades of brand history to observe, Riyadh Air was starting from a blank slate. This was both an opportunity and a challenge: the freedom to shape something entirely new, but also the responsibility to create a design language that would resonate with passengers and stand the test of time.
“Adding to the complexity was an ambitious 18-month timeline. This is a standard timeframe for a low-customised cabin, but Riyadh Air required a bespoke cabin design,
custom materials, and innovative features. This involved an agile and reactive approach, adapting our process to meet the needs of a new airline while maintaining a commitment to excellence. PriestmanGoode was well placed and experienced to accept this challenge.”
The signature theme of all cabins is a distinctive canopy twist design that evokes the elegance of traditional Arabic tents. The 787-9 fleet configuration will accommodate 290 guests with four Business Elite seats and 24 in Business, both in a 1-2-1 fully flat-bed layout using the bespoke Safran Unity seat with a length of 78 inches and a width of 22.5 inches, all featuring 52-inch-high walls and sliding privacy doors along with adjustable privacy dividers between centre seats.
In the airline’s Premium Economy, 39 seats in a 2-3-2 layout with a seat pitch of 38 inches and width of 19.2 inches are offered. Economy class will feature 223 Recaro R3 seats in a 3-3-3 layout with a 31-inch pitch and width of 17.2 inches. The Premium Economy seats are also by Recaro (PL3530 seats).
All touchscreens feature 4K OLED technology, including 32” monitors in Business Elite, 22” in Business Class, 15.6” in Premium Economy, and 13.3” in Economy.
The Business Elite offers a double bed in the centre front seats while all seats in Business Elite and Business feature A/C power and two USB-C and one USB- A charging points. Premium Economy seats offer privacy head wings, increased seat storage, versatile and expandable side table design, refined recliner lounge comfort with calf rest and 4 USB-C charging points
Riyadh Air’s loyalty members will be able to access free Viasat onboard streaming, social scrolling, web browsing, and gaming onboard, available from gate to gate where permitted and Viasat’s network will also be enabling Live TV on the aircraft’s seatback screens. In a first for the industry, the carrier says it will be the first airline to launch Panasonic Avionics’ fully integrated in-flight engagement (IFE) interactive design and publishing tool, Modular Interactive (MI). MI is a full-featured interactive design tool which offers a quick and easy way to respond to the latest guest trends and provide seasonal updates and promotions.
Riyadh Air is collaborating with Devialet to bring Devialet’s signature acoustic technology directly into Business Elite and Business class headrests, delivering immersive, high-fidelity sound without the need for headphones.
Riyadh Air recently received its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and has taken delivery of its first technical spare aircraft. The carrier is set to announce its network and first flight date in the coming months.
