A NEW airline has been forced to push back its launch date following a shortage of provided carriers from embattled aerospace company Boeing.
Saudi airline Riyadh Air was set to begin operations in the first quarter of this year.
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However, the company is reportedly set to receive only four 787 Dreamliner wide-body aircraft in 2025 instead of the expected eight carriers.
The development is a blow to the country’s ambitious goal of attracting 150 million visitors to the Kingdom by the end of this year.
“We have obviously pivoted like everybody else has on a number of occasions to be able to adjust to the latest forecast,” Tony Douglas, the chief executive of the start-up Saudi Arabian carrier, said.
“I am confident, given the latest forecast, that we’ll get deliveries this year. Is it completely without risk? Obviously no, it’s not.”
The troubles cap off a terrible year for Boeing, which has been engulfed in scandal after a door-peg blew out mid-air on a US flight last January.
The company’s recent woes mean that it has fallen far behind Airbus as the world’s leading plane maker.
Riyadh Air aims to fly to 100 destinations worldwide by 2030.
The firm was only founded in March last year but has already risen to the status of Saudi Arabia’s second airline, behind only the government-owned Saudia.
According to the Riyadh Air boss, more than 336,000 people, including 48,000 pilots, have registered their interest in a job with the airline.
The new airline will be based at King Salman International Airport – Riyadh’s brand-new airport.
King Salman International Airport will have six runways and will be able to accommodate 120million passengers when it opens in 2030.
The huge new travel hub will be spread across over 57 square kilometres (22 square miles), with roughly 12 square kilometres being dedicated to recreational facilities.
Mr Douglas confirmed that the restrictions would remain in place in line with Saudi’s tight rules on the sale of booze.
The devoutly Muslim nation only recently allowed alcohol to be served in Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter but elsewhere consumption is strictly forbidden.
It has been suggested that the law could be loosened over the coming five years to include select bars and restaurants, including in airports.
Mr Douglas explained: “We will conform to the law of the land just as anybody else does wherever they may be.
“If the law changes then we would pivot accordingly.”
And discussing the company’s plans, he added: “We’re not going public with the full list until we’ve got all the slots.
“But Western Europe is essential.
“We’re desperately keen to get access to Heathrow.”
The Sun Online has reached out to Riyadh Air and Boeing for comment.
BOEING WOES
It comes after Boeing was forced to ground its whole fleet of 777X test planes after cracks were found in the structure.
Workers reportedly found a concerning fracture on three out of four of the aircraft which had caused damage to a crucial engine component.
The initial test plane to be inspected was found to have a crack in it after it landed in Hawaii with an impaired structure over the weekend.
Two more planes were then checked once they touched down and found to have cracks in the crucial part of the assembly as well.
According to two sources close to Boeing, the issue led to the engine’s “thrust link” onboard being severed.
Thrust links are responsible for transferring the huge thrust of an engine to the structure of the jet through a titanium link sat beneath the wings.
A statement from Boeing to news outlet The Air Current said: “During scheduled maintenance, we identified a component that did not perform as designed.
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“Our team is replacing the part and capturing any learnings from the component and will resume flight testing when ready.
“We are keeping the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) fully informed on the issue and have shared information with our customers.”
