Riyadh Air’s CEO, Tony Douglas, has expressed his frustration over Saudi Arabia’s limited flight routes, calling it “haram” (forbidden) three times during a speech at the PIF Private Sector Forum. Douglas emphasized the urgent need to address the country’s aviation restrictions, which hinder direct travel to numerous destinations worldwide.
He pointed out that Saudis cannot fly directly from Riyadh to major cities like Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul, or Sydney, and that this limitation benefits foreign airlines instead. Douglas noted that Qatar Airways and Emirates have a significant number of Saudi premium passengers, highlighting the demand for more direct flights.
Douglas himself will have to travel with Emirates to attend the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Miami next week, due to the lack of direct flights from Riyadh. He vowed to resolve this issue, stating that Riyadh Air aims to connect 100 cities by 2030 and become a global gateway.
In Islamic teachings, “haram” refers to something strictly forbidden or unacceptable. By using this powerful term, Douglas underscored the necessity of lifting Saudi Arabia’s aviation restrictions to improve connectivity and accessibility for travelers.
