Riyadh Air 787-9 Economy Class Review (Inaugural Flight)
Airline: Riyadh Air, RX
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9
Aircraft registration: HZ-RXAC
Route: Riyadh - Jeddah
Flight number: RX11
Seat: 26A
Read my reviews of Riyadh Air’s other cabins:
Somewhere in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha, three airlines are watching this very closely and pretending they are not. Today we are flying Riyadh Air on their fourth day of public flights and their first flight that does not go to London. This is the launch of their second route ever, Riyadh to Jeddah, and we are on board.
Riyadh Air Boeing 787-9 at King Khalid International Airport
Riyadh Air 787-9 inaugural flight boarding pass
Riyadh Air 787-9
Riyadh Air 787-9
Interestingly, Riyadh Air’s launch has been relatively lowkey than you might expect for an airline with this much funding and hype behind it. There hasn’t been the kind of over-the-top spectacle you sometimes see with new carriers, which makes actually being on one of these early flights feel a bit more understated.
On this first flight we are in economy. On the return leg to Riyadh we review premium economy and business class. Even if premium cabins are all you care about, this section covers things that apply across the whole aircraft: entertainment, Wi-Fi, and the broader experience Riyadh Air is building. These tickets are entirely self-funded, so what follows is our honest take from day four of this airline's life.
Riyadh Air 787-9 economy cabin
Riyadh Air 787-9 premium economy cabin
How I Booked My Riyadh Air Economy Ticket?
This flight went on sale just a few days before we flew it. Being the second route ever launched by the airline, availability was not exactly a problem, and with a light load in economy we got a good deal on what were effectively inaugural flight tickets. We paid 933 SAR one-way for two economy class tickets from Riyadh to Jeddah.
Riyadh Air 787-9 check-in experience
A bit of background, the current home of Riyadh Air is King Khalid International Airport, named the world's most improved airport by Skytrax in 2026. As part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, the airport will be significantly expanded and eventually renamed King Salman International Airport. For now, it is a fine airport, visually striking in places, but nothing close to the scale or modernity of the hubs used by Qatar Airways or Etihad. It is also on the smaller side, which makes it easy to navigate but creates real questions about capacity as Riyadh Air's route network grows.
Riyadh Air Boeing 787-9 at King Khalid International Airport
King Khalid International Airport
King Khalid International Airport recognition
Check-in was at lavender-branded counters that had clearly been set up with some ceremony for this occasion. Saudi coffee and sweets were offered, a small but considered touch that set a hospitable tone from the start. The Riyadh Air branding in purple was striking to see in a real airport environment for the first time.
Riyadh Air check-in counter
Riyadh Air crew
Riyadh Air welcome coffee and sweets
The boarding pass is also worth mentioning. It’s one of those small details that avgeeks tend to overvalue, but this one genuinely feels like a keepsake. I found myself thinking it’s the kind of boarding pass you don’t just discard, you keep it, maybe laminate it, and stick it somewhere safe. It marks one of those truly historic early moments in the airline’s journey.
Riyadh Air 787-9 inaugural flight ribbon cutting
Riyadh Air 787-9 boarding pass
Riyadh Air 787-9 Economy Class Boarding
Boarding this flight felt like a significant moment. The crew uniforms, which I had first seen at a cabin crew fashion show in Paris two years earlier, were now being worn in an airport for an actual flight. Seeing the aircraft on the stand, a Boeing 787-9 with purple-tinted windows, made the occasion feel real in a way that months of industry coverage had not quite managed.
Riyadh Air 787-9 cabin crews
Riyadh Air 787-9 boarding
Riyadh Air 787-9 boarding
As soon as I stepped into the cabin, the mood lighting immediately stood out. It is stunning, and it really sets the tone. The first impression is simple: this is a breathtakingly beautiful economy cabin.
Riyadh Air 787-9 economy cabin seats
Riyadh Air 787-9 economy cabin seats
Riyadh Air 787-9 premium economy cabin
The boarding music is something that has circulated online, and hearing it in person inside the aircraft is something else entirely. Before takeoff, each passenger received a bottle of water and a Saudi welcome treat of chocolate and coconut maamoul. We also received a Riyadh Air luggage tag printed with the details of the specific flight. A thoughtful keepsake for what was, for many people on board, a historic occasion.
The airline also welcomed its Sfeer loyalty members over the PA, which prompted a fair amount of amusement given that the airline had only been flying for four days. The pre-departure address included a reading of the Islamic travel supplication.
Riyadh Air 787-9 Economy Seat Map and Features
The Riyadh Air Boeing 787-9 flies in a three-class configuration with 223 economy seats in a 3-3-3 layout. Seat pitch is 31 inches and width is 17.2 inches, both standard for a Dreamliner, but not quite as nice as economy class on an Airbus A350, for example.
Riyadh Air 787-9 seat map configuration
Riyadh Air 787-9 premium economy cabin seats
Two seats worth knowing about before you book are 25A and 25K. Both offer unlimited legroom and are the top choices in economy if you can secure them. The downside of 25A, as Oskar discovered, is that the entertainment screen extends from the armrest and cannot be fully opened without encroaching on the passenger in front. A trade-off worth knowing.
Riyadh Air 787-9 25A economy legroom
Riyadh Air 787-9 25A economy entertainment screen
The armrests are notably slim, a deliberate design choice that makes the seats feel wider than the numbers suggest. The headrest is adjustable in multiple directions and is noticeably supportive, probably helped by the fact that everything on board is brand new.
Riyadh Air 787-9 armrest
Riyadh Air 787-9 economy class headrest
The recline is generous, which is comfortable when you are the one leaning back. When you are the passenger behind, it is a different situation. The screen ends up roughly an iPhone and a half from your face. Because the seat cushion also moves forward as the seat reclines, legroom behind a reclined passenger becomes tight, particularly if you are tall. At 6'2", this was noticeable.
Each seat is also equipped with two USB-C charging ports per passenger, ensuring ample power options throughout the flight.
Riyadh Air 787-9 seat features
Riyadh Air 787-9 legroom
Riyadh Air 787-9 charging port
There are a few minor design quirks as well. The seat stitching looks good but creates a lumpy feel against your back. It is a detail that might smooth out with age, but on day four of operations it was there. There are also no individual air vents above the seats, which is a real omission on a premium airline launching a new product in 2026. That is the kind of detail that matters in the 50 celcius Riyadh heat.
Riyadh Air 787-9 economy class seat
Riyadh Air 787-9 no individual air vents
A small but clever detail on the aisle seats: the armrest has a clearly marked button that lifts it out of the way even when the tray table is in use.
Riyadh Air 787-9 economy class seat features
The entertainment screens are among the best in the business in economy. They are large, have excellent anti-glare coating, and the mood lighting strip underneath each screen lights the cabin in a way that makes the whole interior feel considerably more expensive than a standard economy cabin. The system itself is very smooth to navigate, closer to an iPad experience than anything else available in this class. This beats most business class entertainment systems, including Lufthansa’s brand new Allegris business.
Riyadh Air 787-9 entertainment screens
The content library is extensive. There is currently no search function, which would make finding a specific title much faster than scrolling through the full catalogue.
Riyadh Air 787-9 entertainment screen
Wi-Fi is complimentary across the entire fleet. The speeds on this flight left some room for improvement, though it is worth noting this was a short domestic service and the system is still in its early days.
Riyadh Air 787-9 Wi-Fi connectivity speed test
Riyadh Air 787-9 Departure from Riyadh
Departure was smooth and the pilots made quick work of getting the aircraft up and toward Jeddah. The cabin was not full, which gave the whole flight a relaxed feel. The mood lighting throughout the cabin created an atmosphere that felt more elevated than a typical short economy class flight, and the overall vibe on board, part celebration, part curiosity, reflected the significance of the occasion for everyone on this flight.
Riyadh Air 787-9 Inflight Meals
For a one-hour fifteen-minute domestic flight, the meal service was a surprise. One of the first in-flight meals ever served by Riyadh Air, and it was better than most airlines manage on routes twice this length.
The food arrived in solid, thick plastic containers with a Riyadh Air-branded plastic lid to keep everything covered. The meal was vegetarian and included a cheese sandwich. Metal cutlery in economy on a flight this short is not something you see often, and it added to the sense that Riyadh Air is trying to set a high standard.
Riyadh Air 787-9 economy class domestic meal
A lavender-colored refreshing towel was handed out alongside the meal and lavender scented to match, which was a small but considered branding detail. Drinks on domestic flights were apple juice, water, coffee, and tea from the cart, with a few additional options available from the galley. Mango juice was available on request and arrived in a thick plastic lavender cup that continued the brand colour throughout the service.
Riyadh Air 787-9 meal
Riyadh Air 787-9 metal cutlery
Riyadh Air 787-9 trolley
Riyadh Air 787-9 snacks on board
Whether Riyadh Air will maintain this level of service on domestic routes as the network grows remains to be seen. If they do, it will be difficult for competitors on these routes to match it.
Riyadh Air 787-9 Economy service
The crew were warm and clearly enthusiastic about the occasion. The welcome at the door was friendly and the service during the meal was attentive.
It would not be fair to use one inaugural domestic flight to draw firm conclusions about what Riyadh Air's day-to-day service will look like at scale. What this flight showed was that the foundation is there: a willing crew, clear service intent, and an attention to small details that reflects how the airline wants to position itself.
Riyadh Air 787-9 Economy Class Lavatory
The economy lavatories share with premium economy, giving a ratio of six lavatories for 262 passengers, roughly one per 43 people. On a short, lightly loaded domestic flight that was not a problem. On a full long-haul service it will need to be watched.
The lavatory design is gorgeous. The doors are black-grayish rather than standard white, which makes the space feel more elevated. The material on the walls has a marble-like finish and creates an interior that feels closer to a premium cabin lavatory than a standard economy one. The sink is small, which is increasingly common but still a functional limitation. A premium soap from Kayanee is provided, a detail that stands out in economy and adds to the impression that Riyadh Air is paying attention to the smaller touches across the whole aircraft.
Riyadh Air 787-9 lavatory
Riyadh Air 787-9 lavatory
Riyadh Air 787-9 lavatory
Riyadh Air 787-9 economy class toiletries
Riyadh Air 787-9 arrival in Jeddah
Our landing in Jeddah was smooth. As the first Riyadh Air aircraft to arrive at the airport, the flight was greeted with a water salute on the apron, a fitting acknowledgment of the occasion. It was a memorable moment to experience as a passenger.
Riyadh Air 787-9 wing
Riyadh Air 787-9 approaching King Abdulaziz International Airport
Riyadh Air 787-9 water salute
Given the light load in the economy, disembarkation moved quickly. The plan was straightforward: get off, and then get straight back on for the return flight to Riyadh to review premium economy and business class.
Riyadh Air 787-9 Economy class: Our final Verdict
The pitch for Riyadh Air has been ambitious from the start: Pan Am glamour, Maybach in the skies, an airline that will redefine flying. After one short domestic flight in economy, the honest answer is that the potential is real but so are the gaps.
What Riyadh Air gets right: the entertainment screens are exceptional, among the best available in economy anywhere. The mood lighting transforms the cabin. Metal cutlery on a one-hour domestic flight says something about the standards being set. Complimentary Wi-Fi is a meaningful commitment. The meal for a short domestic service was far above what competitors typically offer. The lavatory design is premium in a way that economy passengers are rarely given. And the crew, at least on this inaugural flight, were warm and engaged.
What still needs attention: the seat stitching creates a lumpy feel against your back. The recline is too aggressive for the row behind. There are no individual air vents (so-called gaspers), which is a real oversight on a new airline. Emirates, meanwhile, went so far as to install gaspers next to the entertainment screens in their A350 business class so that even people sitting in the center could get fresh air. The entertainment system needs a search function and Arabic language support. Wi-Fi speeds need work. And the airport situation will need to be resolved as the network grows.
This was day four of operations on a lightly loaded domestic flight. Drawing firm conclusions from that would be unfair and premature. What I can say is that the ambition is visible in every detail, from the metal cutlery to the marble lavatory to the boarding music. Whether that ambition translates into a consistently excellent product across long-haul routes at full capacity is the question the whole industry is waiting to have answered.
