Inside the Minds of Four Middle East Airline CEOs: 2025 Plans Revealed
Photo Caption: Riyadh Air is due to launch revenue operations in 2025. Riyadh Air
Skift Take
The idea that every airline in the Middle East is a money-making machine is wholly unfounded. We hear from four airline leaders from across the region who share very different metrics for success for 2025 and beyond.
From mammoth aircraft orders to innovations in passenger experience, the Middle East is playing a key role in reshaping the global aviation landscape. So when airline leaders from the region speak out, it’s usually worth paying attention.
At the Routes World 2024 conference – where airlines, airports, and tourism agencies gather to define the future for global air networks – Skift heard from four of the Middle East’s industry heavyweights. Here are some of the highlights:
Riyadh Air Ramps UpThe CEO of new Saudi carrier Riyadh Air said the airline is "well advanced" in obtaining its Air Operator Certificate (AOC). This is a key regulatory milestone required to begin commercial operations. Tony Douglas, the former Etihad chief tasked with making the start-up airline a reality, offered the update ahead of its planned launch in 2025.
Douglas said the carrier was “days away from completing its AOC flights” and would complete the all-im
