RIA Saudi Airlines?
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Canada
Posts: 597
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I dont know about the long term viability. But in the short term they'll have to throw a lot cash around to get big fast. Maybe you can get a decade or so of good times out of it. But I'm sure even if it is successful, it will later degenerate into what QR and EK are today.
Last edited by Airmann; 8th Sep 2022 at 02:06.
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Mars
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So what is so special about QR or EK? I have traveled twice with the QR and couldn't see a difference from any other airline. In fact Turkish in my opinion was way better experience than QR.
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: London/ New York
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Nothing special with QR or EK, just branding I assume. I always think 380 economy is one of the worst ways to fly.
Turkish are great. Always been impressed with them.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Desert
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
KSA and RIA
RIA is occurring, but those who comment on KSA have no knowledge of it and are biased against the country. MBS envisions Riyadh being transformed into a global hub by 2030. Regarding East-West connectivity, the nation is a sleeping giant. I have lived in this country for over a decade and have witnessed its development and transformation. Among other places, Saudi women drive and work in restaurants, supermarkets, and airports. Given that 70% of the population is under the age of 30, watching economic growth over the next 10 to 15 years will be fascinating. Years were required to establish the Emirates and Qatar brands. Saudi Arabia has never prioritized tourism or increased its air operations. With visas available upon arrival, it is no longer necessary for us to transfer all of our religious passengers to other airlines. Imagine how much revenue 1-2% of passengers annually traveling between the west and the east will generate in 2030 when more than 25% of the world's population will be Muslim. Neom is a PIF project that has already generated considerable interest. With the recent announcement that Aramco, the largest company in the world based on market capitalization, will move its headquarters to Riyadh, all Dubai-based companies must relocate to Riyadh by 2024 in order to be eligible for future contracts. In the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, there is a flourishing financial district of international caliber. Saudia will focus on Jeddah, while RIA will expand in Riyadh. We aim for 300 million passengers per year, and if you run the numbers, double-digit growth is inevitable. With PIF backing, I have no doubt that this massive airline project will succeed. I urge you to travel to KSA, where the transformations will astound you.
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RIA is occurring, but those who comment on KSA have no knowledge of it and are biased against the country. MBS envisions Riyadh being transformed into a global hub by 2030. Regarding East-West connectivity, the nation is a sleeping giant. I have lived in this country for over a decade and have witnessed its development and transformation. Among other places, Saudi women drive and work in restaurants, supermarkets, and airports. Given that 70% of the population is under the age of 30, watching economic growth over the next 10 to 15 years will be fascinating. Years were required to establish the Emirates and Qatar brands. Saudi Arabia has never prioritized tourism or increased its air operations. With visas available upon arrival, it is no longer necessary for us to transfer all of our religious passengers to other airlines. Imagine how much revenue 1-2% of passengers annually traveling between the west and the east will generate in 2030 when more than 25% of the world's population will be Muslim. Neom is a PIF project that has already generated considerable interest. With the recent announcement that Aramco, the largest company in the world based on market capitalization, will move its headquarters to Riyadh, all Dubai-based companies must relocate to Riyadh by 2024 in order to be eligible for future contracts. In the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, there is a flourishing financial district of international caliber. Saudia will focus on Jeddah, while RIA will expand in Riyadh. We aim for 300 million passengers per year, and if you run the numbers, double-digit growth is inevitable. With PIF backing, I have no doubt that this massive airline project will succeed. I urge you to travel to KSA, where the transformations will astound you.
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Meydan South 5 Star Villas
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I’m afraid you’re using logic and an open mind. Most people in the west are quite the opposite, in fact they’re very bigoted. If you read previous comments online and on this forum, the bigot minded westerners are narrow minded towards alcohol free practice in Saudi. What they fail to realise is that Saudi is no longer as strict as it used to be. They are working towards a more liberal way of living to align themselves with western values. RIA will not be an alcohol free airline, and it will be a matter of time until prostitution will be widespread in the Saudi kingdom. Those who follow world politics will know that there is a major world shift of power on the horizon. Oil is beginning to run out in Saudi and the US dollars is protected against the worldwide oil sale. There are actually more dollars outside of US than inside the country. China and India will lead the way towards a new super power stretch and Western alliances will be stuck in slow economies and a wider gap between the rich and the poor. RIA with its treasure chest will tap into a world market including a futuristic city, islands in the Red Sea and layover breaks in a very modern western set up. I will be extremely surprised if Etihad survive the competition in the next 10 years. A merger with Emirates will be inevitable.
liberal was the highlight
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Simply
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
China and India will lead the way toward a new superpower........
er ok..... China maybe. India is supposed to be an IT superpower now.....I've never seen such shite IT in my life. IT wise, nothing works in ME, and it's all Indian.
Just an observation.
er ok..... China maybe. India is supposed to be an IT superpower now.....I've never seen such shite IT in my life. IT wise, nothing works in ME, and it's all Indian.
Just an observation.
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: ME
Posts: 5,489
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I’m more curious about which terminal they plan to use in Riyadh. The new Jeddah terminal is amazing and has the capacity for massive growth, but Riyadhs International terminal is tiny and not extremely welcoming. As for alcohol, they really dont need it based on the number of people using Saudia as a a connecting airline. Their Europe-Asia flights are packed.
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: London/ New York
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What an absolute disgrace of a human being. A waste of a forum now , you should be removed for talking nonsense
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Intentionally Left Blank
Posts: 381
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Desert
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Saudi Arabia has a growing middle class, and I can tell you that the people's ability to buy things is so great that the US just gave Saudi citizens 10-year visas. These days, you can get a visa almost anywhere, and the application takes only a few minutes.
Many European countries may soon permit Saudis to enter with a visa upon arrival.
Why would it be easy to make rules about immigration? The short answer is that these people have more money to spend.
Saudi Arabia is in the process of becoming a green energy superpower and is working on a variety of initiatives. They are taking their time since they want to reduce their reliance on oil. If you study economics and numbers, you'll find that the West's debt-to-GDP ratio is scary. Saudi Arabia's GDP/debt is less than 20%, which is a drop in the bucket compared to the western countries, which would be bankrupt without massive ZIRP and QE since the GFC of 2008. Saudi Arabia has an advantage because its religious traffic can easily reach 100 million people per year, while we don't have the facilities to handle that many people.
Wizz Air has been given permission to expand with 20 additional routes in 2023, and the company is aware of the lucrative market in Saudi Arabia. Over two hundred aircraft are on order for Flynas, and SAUDIA plans to have 250 aircraft in service by 2030.
Don't hold Saudi Arabia up to the same standards as other regional players until its tourism and transit sectors are developed.
Onwards and upwards with exciting times for KSA. Haters will always hate.
Many European countries may soon permit Saudis to enter with a visa upon arrival.
Why would it be easy to make rules about immigration? The short answer is that these people have more money to spend.
Saudi Arabia is in the process of becoming a green energy superpower and is working on a variety of initiatives. They are taking their time since they want to reduce their reliance on oil. If you study economics and numbers, you'll find that the West's debt-to-GDP ratio is scary. Saudi Arabia's GDP/debt is less than 20%, which is a drop in the bucket compared to the western countries, which would be bankrupt without massive ZIRP and QE since the GFC of 2008. Saudi Arabia has an advantage because its religious traffic can easily reach 100 million people per year, while we don't have the facilities to handle that many people.
Wizz Air has been given permission to expand with 20 additional routes in 2023, and the company is aware of the lucrative market in Saudi Arabia. Over two hundred aircraft are on order for Flynas, and SAUDIA plans to have 250 aircraft in service by 2030.
Don't hold Saudi Arabia up to the same standards as other regional players until its tourism and transit sectors are developed.
Onwards and upwards with exciting times for KSA. Haters will always hate.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Middle East
Posts: 411
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I lived and worked in Saudi. I agree that things have changed a lot but I just don’t see how an airline using local labour (and that’s surely the idea) will in any way be able to compete with the best from the neighbours in the Gulf. The mindset is changing, but the pace is glacial. This part of the world simply does not have a service orientated mindset when it comes to local staff.
As anyone who’s ever had to go to a Saudi shopping mall and be served by a local can attest, customer service in Saudi is - to be polite - patchy. There are rare pleasant interactions but they are rare. The best you can hope for is indifference, at worst outright hostility. I can’t see this changing quickly.
As I said - cheap fares, an overall unpleasant experience and an airline to be endured rather than desired.
As anyone who’s ever had to go to a Saudi shopping mall and be served by a local can attest, customer service in Saudi is - to be polite - patchy. There are rare pleasant interactions but they are rare. The best you can hope for is indifference, at worst outright hostility. I can’t see this changing quickly.
As I said - cheap fares, an overall unpleasant experience and an airline to be endured rather than desired.
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: ME
Posts: 5,489
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I lived and worked in Saudi. I agree that things have changed a lot but I just don’t see how an airline using local labour (and that’s surely the idea) will in any way be able to compete with the best from the neighbours in the Gulf. The mindset is changing, but the pace is glacial. This part of the world simply does not have a service orientated mindset when it comes to local staff.
As anyone who’s ever had to go to a Saudi shopping mall and be served by a local can attest, customer service in Saudi is - to be polite - patchy. There are rare pleasant interactions but they are rare. The best you can hope for is indifference, at worst outright hostility. I can’t see this changing quickly.
As I said - cheap fares, an overall unpleasant experience and an airline to be endured rather than desired.
As anyone who’s ever had to go to a Saudi shopping mall and be served by a local can attest, customer service in Saudi is - to be polite - patchy. There are rare pleasant interactions but they are rare. The best you can hope for is indifference, at worst outright hostility. I can’t see this changing quickly.
As I said - cheap fares, an overall unpleasant experience and an airline to be endured rather than desired.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Desert
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I lived and worked in Saudi. I agree that things have changed a lot but I just don’t see how an airline using local labour (and that’s surely the idea) will in any way be able to compete with the best from the neighbours in the Gulf. The mindset is changing, but the pace is glacial. This part of the world simply does not have a service orientated mindset when it comes to local staff.
As anyone who’s ever had to go to a Saudi shopping mall and be served by a local can attest, customer service in Saudi is - to be polite - patchy. There are rare pleasant interactions but they are rare. The best you can hope for is indifference, at worst outright hostility. I can’t see this changing quickly.
As I said - cheap fares, an overall unpleasant experience and an airline to be endured rather than desired.
As anyone who’s ever had to go to a Saudi shopping mall and be served by a local can attest, customer service in Saudi is - to be polite - patchy. There are rare pleasant interactions but they are rare. The best you can hope for is indifference, at worst outright hostility. I can’t see this changing quickly.
As I said - cheap fares, an overall unpleasant experience and an airline to be endured rather than desired.
In the 1960s and 1970s, it took time for the west's diverse social movements, largely based in the United States, to seek equal rights and opportunities and greater personal freedom for women.
Current members of Saudi Arabia's Generation Z were educated in the West and have a different mentality and skill set than the old guard. MBS recognizes that Saudis have enormous potential and that, with the right assistance and opportunities, society will change and progress toward Vision 2030. Capital is already there and will be used to help the KSA grow and create jobs. Be patient and don't rely on your perception of the past; instead, anticipate what Saudi hospitality will offer you once it is given the chance to flourish and reach its full potential.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Intentionally Left Blank
Posts: 381
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: korea
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No one should doubt or underestimate MBS’s ambitions and available resources to start this new airline however it remains to be seen if it will be done properly or half arsed using cheap labor. The initial setup and the quality of staff they can attract will largely determine the airlines success or failure.
Establishing this new airline and feeding the rapid expansion that follows will require a huge influx of high quality experienced pilots who are familiar with the region and the culture. Incumbent Gulf airlines with a base of experience and confidence in their own checking and monitoring systems have seen it appropriate to lower their entry experience requirements and recruit from less desirable parts of the world. RIA will not have this luxury and will have to buy that experience. The experienced pilots and engineers working for the Gulf carriers are going to be the obvious target for that recruitment.
If you’re considering involvement with this venture know what your experience is worth and don’t sell yourself short. I would expect that RIA is aiming to be one of the worlds premium carriers so this should be the starting point for your salary expectations. While MBS has made huge strides in recent years working in Saudi remains problematic to say the least so it should be considered a hardship posting for the foreseeable future. An additional premium should therefore apply for abandoning your life, family and friends back home to commit to an expat life in Saudi..
Given the risks associate with a new company and the fact that you may have to live in Saudi I would not consider anything less than USD 30k/ month plus housing and benefits. If commuting contracts are offered you need to consider the tax implications, and how you are going to get to and from work. I would suggest that commuting to North America or Australia would be next to impossible. Europe and perhaps South East Asia may be doable depending upon the patterns. In any case commuting contracts may not even be offered.
Exciting and interesting times ahead but don’t sell yourself short. Feel free to post your salary expectations.
Establishing this new airline and feeding the rapid expansion that follows will require a huge influx of high quality experienced pilots who are familiar with the region and the culture. Incumbent Gulf airlines with a base of experience and confidence in their own checking and monitoring systems have seen it appropriate to lower their entry experience requirements and recruit from less desirable parts of the world. RIA will not have this luxury and will have to buy that experience. The experienced pilots and engineers working for the Gulf carriers are going to be the obvious target for that recruitment.
If you’re considering involvement with this venture know what your experience is worth and don’t sell yourself short. I would expect that RIA is aiming to be one of the worlds premium carriers so this should be the starting point for your salary expectations. While MBS has made huge strides in recent years working in Saudi remains problematic to say the least so it should be considered a hardship posting for the foreseeable future. An additional premium should therefore apply for abandoning your life, family and friends back home to commit to an expat life in Saudi..
Given the risks associate with a new company and the fact that you may have to live in Saudi I would not consider anything less than USD 30k/ month plus housing and benefits. If commuting contracts are offered you need to consider the tax implications, and how you are going to get to and from work. I would suggest that commuting to North America or Australia would be next to impossible. Europe and perhaps South East Asia may be doable depending upon the patterns. In any case commuting contracts may not even be offered.
Exciting and interesting times ahead but don’t sell yourself short. Feel free to post your salary expectations.
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: up north
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
no one should doubt or underestimate mbs’s ambitions and available resources to start this new airline however it remains to be seen if it will be done properly or half arsed using cheap labor. The initial setup and the quality of staff they can attract will largely determine the airlines success or failure.
Establishing this new airline and feeding the rapid expansion that follows will require a huge influx of high quality experienced pilots who are familiar with the region and the culture. Incumbent gulf airlines with a base of experience and confidence in their own checking and monitoring systems have seen it appropriate to lower their entry experience requirements and recruit from less desirable parts of the world. Ria will not have this luxury and will have to buy that experience. The experienced pilots and engineers working for the gulf carriers are going to be the obvious target for that recruitment.
If you’re considering involvement with this venture know what your experience is worth and don’t sell yourself short. I would expect that ria is aiming to be one of the worlds premium carriers so this should be the starting point for your salary expectations. While mbs has made huge strides in recent years working in saudi remains problematic to say the least so it should be considered a hardship posting for the foreseeable future. An additional premium should therefore apply for abandoning your life, family and friends back home to commit to an expat life in saudi..
Given the risks associate with a new company and the fact that you may have to live in saudi i would not consider anything less than usd 30k/ month plus housing and benefits. If commuting contracts are offered you need to consider the tax implications, and how you are going to get to and from work. I would suggest that commuting to north america or australia would be next to impossible. Europe and perhaps south east asia may be doable depending upon the patterns. In any case commuting contracts may not even be offered.
Exciting and interesting times ahead but don’t sell yourself short. Feel free to post your salary expectations.
Establishing this new airline and feeding the rapid expansion that follows will require a huge influx of high quality experienced pilots who are familiar with the region and the culture. Incumbent gulf airlines with a base of experience and confidence in their own checking and monitoring systems have seen it appropriate to lower their entry experience requirements and recruit from less desirable parts of the world. Ria will not have this luxury and will have to buy that experience. The experienced pilots and engineers working for the gulf carriers are going to be the obvious target for that recruitment.
If you’re considering involvement with this venture know what your experience is worth and don’t sell yourself short. I would expect that ria is aiming to be one of the worlds premium carriers so this should be the starting point for your salary expectations. While mbs has made huge strides in recent years working in saudi remains problematic to say the least so it should be considered a hardship posting for the foreseeable future. An additional premium should therefore apply for abandoning your life, family and friends back home to commit to an expat life in saudi..
Given the risks associate with a new company and the fact that you may have to live in saudi i would not consider anything less than usd 30k/ month plus housing and benefits. If commuting contracts are offered you need to consider the tax implications, and how you are going to get to and from work. I would suggest that commuting to north america or australia would be next to impossible. Europe and perhaps south east asia may be doable depending upon the patterns. In any case commuting contracts may not even be offered.
Exciting and interesting times ahead but don’t sell yourself short. Feel free to post your salary expectations.
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Eu
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think China has sufficient loos but woefully inadequate waste water systems . No idea about Saudi but hopefully the “long drop” hole in the floor model is being modified and cleaned up