Riyadh Air, the ambitious new startup airline from Saudi Arabia, has revealed the opulent designs of its interior cabins, prominently featuring a luxurious "Business Elite" tier. This exciting unveiling comes as the airline prepares for its much-anticipated launch, scheduled for the last quarter of this year. With plans to connect Saudi Arabia to approximately 100 destinations within the next five years, Riyadh Air aims to play a pivotal role in enhancing tourism as part of the nation's Vision 2030 initiative, which seeks to diversify the Saudi economy beyond oil.

The airline is strongly supported by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, which has enabled it to make significant commitments in aircraft acquisitions. Riyadh Air has already placed orders for dozens of the highly regarded Airbus A321neos and an impressive total of up to 72 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, setting a strong foundation for its operations.

The recent reveal of the cabin design follows the debut of the airline's stylish cabin crew uniforms last year at Haute Couture Week in Paris. Riyadh Air's CEO, Tony Douglas, shared insights into the design vision behind both the uniforms and the cabin interiors. He expressed a desire to evoke a sense of nostalgia and glamour reminiscent of the golden age of aviation, citing iconic airlines such as TWA and Pan Am, as well as the film "Catch Me If You Can," starring Leonardo DiCaprio. "The brief on the fashion was, I want TWA, I want Pan Am, I want [Leonardo] DiCaprio in 'Catch Me If You Can' with a modern twist to bring that sophistication, that glamour back into it," Douglas elaborated during an interview with Business Insider.

As for the cabin interiors, the Dreamliners will accommodate 290 passengers, featuring a color palette centered around luxurious purple tones, highlighted by stylish "Mocha Gold" accents in the premium classes. A standout feature of the Business Elite tier will be the four private suites located at the front of the 787, each equipped with a remarkable 32-inch television. According to Riyadh Air, these TVs are the largest currently available in any business class setting.

In an innovative twist, the privacy divider in these suites can be removed to create an intimate double bed configuration, catering to couples or those seeking extra space. The bespoke Safran Unity seats in the Business Elite section have been designed in partnership with Devialet, a renowned audio company, to enhance the in-flight experience. This collaboration has resulted in the implementation of the Euphony system, which allows passengers to enjoy in-flight entertainment without the need for headphones, thanks to smart speakers integrated into the headrests. Notably, Japan Airlines was the first airline to adopt this cutting-edge technology earlier this year.

Riyadh Air's Business Elite seats are designed for maximum comfort, lying fully flat and measuring 6 feet 6 inches in length and 22.5 inches in width. Each suite is also equipped with a sliding door, ensuring privacy for passengers. In addition, the business class features a 22-inch TV, also a 4K OLED monitor, along with multiple power outlets and two USB-C and one USB-A charging ports for added convenience.

Moving on to the premium economy section, Riyadh Air has opted for a seating arrangement that mirrors that of Emirates, utilizing the acclaimed Recaro PL3530 model. The premium economy cabin will be arranged in a 2-3-2 layout, providing ample comfort with a seat pitch of 38 inches and a width of 19.2 inches. Passengers can also expect supportive calf rests, four USB-C charging points, and a 15.6-inch TV. Douglas emphasized that while these seats are similar to those on Emirates, Riyadh Air has aimed to elevate the overall experience through thoughtful design touches, such as marble side tables featuring gold veins.

The economy cabin of Riyadh Air's Boeing 787s will adopt a nine-abreast configuration with a seat width of 17.2 inches and a generous 31-inch pitch, ensuring adequate legroom for passengers. Adjustable headrests in six directions and two USB-C charging points per seat will further enhance passenger comfort, while the economy class will feature 4K TVs measuring 13.4 inches.

Douglas assured potential customers that flying with Riyadh Air will provide a consistent experience, stating, "If you buy a ticket with Riyadh Air going forward, it won't be the lottery that it is with some legacy airlines that have got not just different aircraft types, but different generations of cabins, so you're never quite sure which one that ticket equates to." While the initial fleet of Boeing 787s will not include a first-class cabin, the CEO revealed aspirations to incorporate this elite tier into future aircraft. The airline is currently in discussions regarding the inclusion of a third aircraft type, potentially an extra-wide body model like the Airbus A350 or Boeing 777X.