summary
- Riyadh Air has unveiled its second livery, which is predominantly white compared to the previous striking blue and lavender colors.
- White paint is the norm in the aviation industry for a variety of reasons, including reducing the environmental impact of operations, reducing operational maintenance costs, and making aircraft easier to identify.
- Riyadh Air has completed a firm order for 50 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft at the Dubai Airshow, which will be added to its growing fleet of Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
Aircraft livery is one of the most powerful assets for increasing brand awareness. Think of the coloring as a carefully chosen dress to grab the attention of someone special at your dinner party. That’s exactly what airlines do. Their eye-catching coloring makes you think, “Hey, what airline does that fly with? That plane is so cool!” At least, that’s what Riyadh Air is aiming to do with the unveiling of its second livery.
Riyadh Air goes blank
In June, Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new airline, surprised the world by unveiling its first Boeing 787 in a striking blue and lavender livery.
Five months later, the company unveiled a second rainbow coloring, but it’s predominately white compared to the first. Meanwhile, the rear part of the fuselage is identical to the blue and lavender versions. The front of the plane proudly bears the airline’s name in Arabic, with the words “Riyadh Airways” written below. An interesting aspect of the new livery is the dark mask that frames the cockpit windows, vaguely reminiscent of Air Canada’s latest livery.
Photo: Riyadh Air
More “normal” coloring
After designing such a striking and colorful livery, it is perhaps surprising that Riyadh Airways has opted for a more conventional livery based on white.
White paint is the standard in the aviation industry, and there are many reasons for this. First, the less paint used on the aircraft, the better. In fact, paint adds an average of 600 to 1,200 pounds (272 to 544 kg) to an aircraft’s weight. Increased weight means more fuel is consumed per leg, which has a negative impact on the environment and operating costs. Additionally, white fades more slowly than other colors, reducing the need for repainting and lowering maintenance costs.
White also reflects sunlight, helping to maintain a comfortable cabin environment for passengers and crew. Another advantage of white is that it is easier for maintenance teams to spot potential damage, such as oil leaks or cracks, on a white aircraft than on a colored aircraft. Last but not least, white helps to easily distinguish the aircraft from the ground. This is of fundamental help to search and rescue teams in the event of an aviation accident.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace I Simple Flying
Riyadh Air fleet advances
Tomorrow, November 13th, marks the beginning of the Dubai Air Show, the most important air show in the Middle East. Riyadh Air will also be participating, unveiling its second livery and completing orders for aircraft to expand its future fleet.
According to Bloomberg, the newly formed Saudi Arabian airline is rumored to be considering a deal for up to 100 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to deploy on its short- and medium-haul network. In particular, Riyadh Airways plans to place a firm order for 50 aircraft of the same type, with options for a similar number. However, airlines and manufacturers are still negotiating, so the final numbers may vary.
For now, Riyadh Air has firm orders for 39 Boeing 787-9 aircraft, with options for 33 more.
Photo: Riyadh Air
How do you think Riyadh Air decides which aircraft sport which livery? Let us know by clicking the comment button below.
sauce: bloomberg
