Riyadh Air has revealed the cabin interiors of its new Boeing 787-9 fleet, promising a unique guest experience from boarding to arrival. Set to launch later in 2025, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s newest airline is making sure to set itself apart in modern air travel. So if you’re planning to fly Bahrain to Riyadh, this might be an experience worth enjoying. With a design ethos rooted in elegance, ergonomic precision, and cultural nuance, Riyadh Air’s cabin concept reflects its ambition to redefine premium travel experiences for all passengers.
Across all classes—Business Elite, Business, Premium Economy, and Economy—Riyadh Air has focused on delivering consistent quality and comfort. The airline’s new cabins, uniform across the 787 wide-body fleet, highlight a blend of high-end technology and refined aesthetics. Every aspect of the interior, from seat materials to lighting schemes, has been considered with care. While lavender hues introduce a sense of calm in Economy, Premium cabins are finished with metallic Mocha Gold accents that lend sophistication without excess.
The Business Elite section features four seats, each within its private suite complete with 52-inch-high walls and sliding doors. The seats transform into fully flat beds with a length of 78 inches and are 22.5 inches wide. The configuration follows a 1-2-1 layout that includes centre seats with adjustable privacy dividers. Business Class mirrors this format, offering 24 seats in a similar flat-bed design. Both categories feature Safran Unity seats and integrate Devialet’s acoustic technology within the headrests, eliminating the need for headphones. The immersive sound system is a result of Riyadh Air’s partnership with the French audio brand known for redefining sound quality. In addition, each seat is equipped with AC power, two USB-C ports, and one USB-A outlet for convenience.
Premium Economy, designed with privacy wings and enhanced recliner lounge comfort, includes 39 seats in a 2-3-2 layout. With a seat pitch of 38 inches and a width of 19.2 inches, the Recaro PL3530 seats provide versatile side tables, calf rests, and four USB-C ports per passenger. Economy Class accommodates 223 passengers in a 3-3-3 configuration, offering 31 inches of pitch and 17.2 inches in width. These seats feature adjustable headrests and two USB-C ports per seat.
Across all cabins, passengers will enjoy some of the largest in-flight entertainment screens currently in the skies, with 32-inch 4K OLED screens in Business Elite, 22-inch in Business, 15.6-inch in Premium Economy, and 13.3-inch in Economy. Live TV will also be available, thanks to Viasat’s satellite network. Riyadh Air loyalty programme members will benefit from complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi throughout their journey, enabling uninterrupted streaming, browsing, gaming, and social media use gate-to-gate, where regulations allow.
The interior design narrative draws inspiration from Riyadh itself, incorporating a palette of rich, iridescent tones, including sunset peach, skyline blue, indigo, and soft mocha. Veined stone textures and textile choices echo the regional identity while bringing a sense of contemporary luxury onboard. The cabins also feature a distinct canopy twist design, evoking the graceful lines of traditional Arabian tents. Subtle lighting shifts are coordinated with flight stages to support natural circadian rhythms, offering a more comfortable transition between time zones.
From an operational standpoint, Riyadh Air’s consistent interior configuration across its fleet simplifies the guest experience and reduces variability in service delivery. This standardisation—coupled with the digital-first philosophy that underpins the airline’s identity—signals a significant step forward for aviation in the region. CEO Tony Douglas described the new interiors as a realisation of the airline’s promise to deliver world-class comfort and technology. He noted that the cabin design and seating were chosen to maximise both relaxation and utility, reinforcing the airline’s aim to offer a smooth and engaging travel experience.
The Business Elite front centre seats can also be converted into a double bed, a first for many long-haul carriers in the region. Meanwhile, Premium Economy and Economy offer comforts that go beyond expectations for their respective categories. This includes thoughtful features like increased seat storage, multi-functional tray tables, refined recline mechanisms, and a tactile finish that feels more like home furnishing than aircraft upholstery. Each seat throughout the aircraft uses plush foam and high-quality, home-inspired fabrics, finished with tufted stitching for visual depth and added comfort.
Beyond seating, Riyadh Air will be the first airline to integrate Panasonic Avionics’ Modular Interactive (MI) in-flight engagement platform. This full-featured design and publishing tool allows Riyadh Air to regularly update its onboard content and digital features, reflecting seasonal trends, guest feedback, or special promotions. It’s another demonstration of the airline’s aim to stay agile and relevant in a fast-moving industry.
Having already secured its Air Operator Certificate and taken delivery of its first technical spare aircraft, Riyadh Air is on track to announce its network and first operational flight in the coming months. As it prepares to launch, it is clear that the carrier is not simply entering the market—it’s intent on reshaping it. By focusing on consistency, design precision, digital convenience, and a distinctly Saudi sense of identity, Riyadh Air is setting new expectations for commercial aviation.
