One of the most highly anticipated new luxury airlines, which recently showed off stunning cabin designs ahead of its inaugural flight later this year, won’t serve its well-heeled passengers Champagne or any other alcohol for that matter.
When we think of the perks that go along with flying in First or Business Class on a full-service international airline, a glass of something fizzy and alcoholic is often high up on the list of what passengers want and expect.
And when you are trying to attract international tourists from Europe and North America to opulent beach resorts, you would have thought that an airline would be aiming to give these high-flying passengers exactly what they expect.
Riyadh Air, a multi-billion-dollar new airline being bankrolled by a massively wealthy sovereign wealth fund, however, is going to have to do things a little differently.
And that’s not necessarily because it doesn’t want to serve top-tier Champagne but because staff would end up in jail if they dared to serve alcohol.
Of course, this is because alcohol is strictly forbidden in Saudi Arabia, where Riyadh Air is based, and chief executive Tony Douglas recently confirmed to Executive Traveller that the airline has no plans to break the law just to keep passengers happy.
There is, though, the possibility that Saudi Arabia’s reforming Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman might radically overhaul the Kingdom’s alcohol laws to emulate the conditions that already exist in many parts of the Persian Gulf, like Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and more liberally, Dubai.
“It’s very straightforward, really,” chief executive Douglas responded to ongoing questions about Riyadh Air’s stance on serving alcohol onboard its flights.
“We’ll work within the legal framework that is present at any point in time.”
Tony Douglas, chief executive of Riyadh Air
“We’ll work within the legal framework that is present at any point in time,” Douglas continued. “At the moment, alcohol is prohibited within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and therefore, we will work with that as being the current legislation.”
So, for the time being, at least, don’t expect Riyadh Air to be making any big announcements of partnerships with well-known Champagne houses… at least not before Riyadh launches before the end of 2025.
That being said, Douglas isn’t suggesting that Riyadh Air is a ‘dry airline’ by philosophical choice. While he hasn’t said it out loud, you sure get the impression that Douglas wants to serve alcohol on Riyadh Air flights, and it’s only a matter of when.
What might happen is that bin Salman signs off a small exception to Saudi’s strict alcohol laws, allowing it to be served on Riyadh Air flights, perhaps in the same way that other international carriers flying to the Kingdom are allowed.
That means alcohol would be banned within Saudi airspace, so no pre-departure beverages are allowed on the ground in Riyadh. However, as soon as the aircraft is out of Saudi airspace, the bars can be opened.
This might sound hard to believe, but you would be surprised to learn the number of people who forgo traveling on an airline with better seats and cabins when it comes to the option of being able to drink alcohol or not.
And yes, this also includes the local Saudi market.
