Inside Riyadh Air’s Cabins: Saudi Arabia’s Ambitious New Carrier

A premium economy better than business class? AI concierges? Claims of outdoing both Qatar and Emirates? These are just some of the bold claims Riyadh Air has made. The question is can it follow up on these?

After months of buzz, Riyadh Air has finally revealed its cabin interiors,

Here’s what you need to know.

Riyadh Air has described itself as a “no legacy” airline, something that gives it the freedom to craft an identity from scratch, and if you ask me, that’s its biggest advantage. No outdated IT systems, no ancient fleet to modernize, and no corporate culture to reform. Problems almost every airline struggles with.

The biggest problem is that there's no built-in brand loyalty, no nostalgic frequent flyers, and a very crowded Middle Eastern market to elbow into.

But Saudi Arabia is pulling in the big names. Since 2022, they’ve partnered with PriestmanGoode to create the cabins around three core pillars: comfort, technology, and longevity. The design team immersed itself in Riyadh's culture to “create an authentic experience that connects to Saudi heritage while maintaining a contemporary outlook”.

Here's what Ben Rowan, director at PriestmanGoode, has to say about it:

The cabin reveal complements the airline's fashion-forward approach, previously showcased when their cabin crew uniforms debuted at Haute Couture Week in Paris last year.

"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."

The cabin reveal complements the airline's fashion-forward approach, previously showcased when their cabin crew uniforms debuted at Haute Couture Week in Paris last year.

Here's what CEO Tony Douglas told Business Insider in an interview:

"The brief on the fashion was I want TWA, I want Pan Am, I want [Leonardo] DiCaprio in 'Catch Me If You Can' with a modern twist to bring that sophistication, that glamour back into it,"

The Dreamliner’s economy section will have 223 seats in a 3-3-3 layout – pretty standard on a 787 – and offers a standard 31-inch pitch and 17.2-inch seat width​. Those numbers are on par with other full-service long-haul carriers; 31″ is roughly “decent” legroom by today’s standards.

Now, credit where credit is due. Riyadh Air has excelled in attention to detail and tech. Each seat gets a 13-inch 4K seat-back screen (13.3″ to be exact)​, which is among the largest economy displays out there – and notably, they’re the same OLED touchscreens used in higher classes, just scaled down. Streaming your flight map or a movie in 4K on a seat-back TV is still a rare treat in economy.

The headrests adjust six ways to help passengers get comfortable, and the cushions and fabrics have been designed with extra padding for long-haul comfort.

Not revolutionary, but nothing to scoff at either.

I do appreciate that they're planning to use the same seat model across their future A321neo fleet. There’s nothing worse than having a great experience on a long-haul flight only to be crammed into something completely different for your connection, which I’m sure you've experienced before.

Unlike some of its Gulf neighbors who initially skipped premium economy altogether, Riyadh Air is jumping right in with 39 Premium Economy seats in a 2-3-2 configuration. The Recaro PL3530 seats (the same model used by Emirates) offer a 38-inch pitch and 19.2-inch width, significantly roomier than standard economy but not revolutionary by premium economy standards.

Each seat features four USB-C charging ports and a respectable 15.6-inch 4K screen. The cabin decor here continues the airline’s modern Saudi aesthetic: subtle ambient lighting, warm Mocha Gold trim, and lavender tones that carry over from economy for a cohesive look.

While competitive, calling this “better than most business class” might be a bit of a stretch.

The 38-inch pitch is actually on the lower end for premium economy – Japan Airlines offers 42 inches, for comparison.

The soft product is yet to be revealed, but I’m not sure it will be groundbreaking either. If it was, they would have hyped it up

The Business Class and Business Elite share the same DNA. These seats are configured 1-2-1 across the 787’s width, offering direct aisle access for every passenger and fully lie-flat beds. They’re using the Safran Unity suite platform, giving you a 6’6″ bed length, 22.5″ width, and a sliding door on each suite for privacy. The Business Class TVs measure 22 inches (still impressively large, and also 4K OLED quality)

Each seat has multiple charging ports, a high partition, and even the same chic finishes like dark marble side tables with gold veining in line with Riyadh Air’s design theme.

One noteworthy aspect is consistency – Riyadh Air deliberately chose to standardize its premium product rather than mix different seat types. Tony Douglas highlighted that with a “no legacy” fleet, they want to avoid the aircraft cabin lottery; whether you fly on the first 787 or the tenth, you’ll get the same modern cabin experience every time. A very smart move, as its something Lufthansa is catching a lot of heat for with their new Allegris business class being rolled out on only some of their planes, and a lot of times not even the whole cabin.

The bespoke Safran Unity seats in business class also make use of the French manufacturer's partnership with Devialet, an audio company. Its Euphony system means passengers don't need headphones to listen to in-flight entertainment, thanks to smart speakers in the headrests.

Japan Airlines was the first to adopt this technology in 2023.

And now we come to the crown jewel of Riyadh Air's 787-9s, their "Business Elite" cabin – essentially a boutique first-class experience despite not carrying that label.
The airline is installing just four of these ultra-premium suites in the front row, arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration. These enhanced Safran Unity suites feature fully flat beds stretching 78 inches long by 22.5 inches wide, enclosed by 52-inch-high walls and sliding doors.
The centerpiece of each Business Elite suite is what Riyadh Air claims are the largest screens in any business class globally – 32-inch 4K OLED monitors that promise a cinematic viewing experience. The middle pair of Business Elite suites can be converted into a double bed with the lowering of a center divider, rivaling Qatar's renowned “Q-Suite.”

It would be easier to count the differences the Business Elite hardware has with Business Class, because there are not that many. Business Class just has a bit less personal space and slightly smaller entertainment screens.