Everything We Know About Riyadh Air’s Loyalty Program

Riyadh Air, the new Saudi Arabian airline expected to begin flying this year, has revealed some aspects of its future loyalty program.

Here’s what we know about this important aspect of the new Middle Eastern carrier, which has already signed a partnership with Delta Air Lines.

Riyadh Air’s Loyalty Program Has Something in Common With Emirates’

Riyadh Air is Saudi Arabia’s second flag carrier, which plans to begin flights in 2025.

Now, we know something more about a key element of its strategy, the loyalty program. Riyadh Air said in a statement that it has partnered with Loyalty Juggernaut, a Silicon Valley-based U.S. company, to create a program based on Loyalty Juggernaut’s cloud-native GRAVTY platform.

The statement is dense with jargon and light on details — we still don’t know what the program will be called, for example — but we can glean some interesting tidbits. Some of what the company tells us could be expected: “The program will feature real-time engagement” and “AI-driven personalization,” the statement says. A loyalty marketing plan that did not feature these aspects in the year 2025 would be deficient. Mentions of “expanded partnerships” and a “seamless mobile-first experience” are also table stakes for a serious loyalty program these days.

The more interesting part comes when Riyadh Air tells us there will be “dynamic earn and redemption opportunities.” The reference is clear: Riyadh Air probably will not have award charts. Like with its U.S. partner Delta, the number of miles needed for redemptions will be determined dynamically, based on demand.

While the company’s statement doesn’t say, Loyalty Juggernaut’s site tells us that its platforms are used by the loyalty programs of 2 major players. One is Emirates, the biggest airline in the world by international passengers carried; the other is WestJet, Canada’s second-biggest airline and another close partner of Delta’s.

The new loyalty program is expected to launch ahead of Riyadh Air’s inaugural flights, which are planned for this year.

Riyadh Air Is Delta’s New Friend Overseas

Riyadh Air is a government project that was announced in 2023. On paper, it seems to duplicate the national airline, Saudia. Both are owned by the Saudi state. Saudi Arabia has existed for decades and has a large fleet and network spanning from North America to Asia; Riyadh Air wants to become the same thing, with flights planned to more than 100 destinations worldwide.

The difference is that Riyadh Air’s base will be in Riyadh at the capital city’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH), while Saudia has its largest presence in Jeddah (JED) and a secondary hub in Riyadh. Eventually, Riyadh Air (code RX) will take over in Riyadh while Saudia (SV) concentrates exclusively on Jeddah.

Much like Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways, Riyadh Air’s aim is to use its geographic location to act as a transit hub for passengers traveling large distances across the world. Without the backing of the Saudi government, this would be a tall order, given Saudia’s heft and incumbent power plus the competition from established giants like Emirates, just next door in Dubai.

To that end, Riyadh Air is signing deals with big partners even before flying a single revenue service. Last year, it entered a Strategic Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding with Delta Air Lines, stating that Delta will be Riyadh Air’s exclusive partner in North America. In turn, Riyadh Air will be Delta’s exclusive partner in Riyadh. Delta already partners with Saudia, a fellow member of the SkyTeam alliance.

Riyadh Air has also entered a partnership with Virgin Atlantic, which is also in SkyTeam and is 49% owned by Delta. It’s easy to predict, then, that passengers will be able to earn and redeem Delta SkyMiles and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points on Riyadh Air flights.

Meet Riyadh Air’s Boeing 787s

Riyadh Air, led by Tony Douglas, the former CEO of Etihad, plans to order up to 132 airplanes, giving it a larger fleet than the flag carriers of Italy, Australia, or Spain.

Currently, the airline has 39 Boeing 787-9 and 60 Airbus A321neo on order, plus options for 33 more 787s.

U.S. flights will be operated by the 787-9s, which will have 290 seats, in a configuration that doesn’t skew heavily towards premium cabins despite the airline’s stated claim to aim for the luxury market. Business class will have only 28 seats, compared to, for example, the latest American Airlines configuration on the same aircraft, with 51 business seats.

Business class will include 4 seats in Business Elite at the front of the cabin, with a bit more space and a larger 32″ screen, plus the ability to connect the center pods to create a double bed.

Premium economy will have 39 seats in a 2-3-2 layout with 38 inches of legroom, while economy will have 223 seats in a 3-3-3 layout with a 31-inch pitch. Nothing exceptional there, as that is the standard legroom on most 787 operators.

We don’t have a configuration yet for the A321s, but we can presume that like the 787s they will have a lie-flat business class, and that they will serve medium-haul destinations in Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Final Thoughts

The arrival of Riyadh Air will likely add a new way to earn and redeem miles for people invested in Delta’s loyalty ecosystem, or who are loyal to the SkyTeam alliance, to which Riyadh Air is getting closer. Check back with us for more information on the impending launch of this new airline.