New Saudi Arabian airline Riyadh Air plans to offer its customers a new standard in business travel with its Business Elite suites on its Boeing 789-9 Dreamliner aircraft. The new airline is scheduled to make its first commercial flight before the end of 2025. The company promises that the suites will be comparable to first-class offerings from Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways.
Business Elite Suites Filled With Luxurious Features
Riyadh Air will configure its 789-9 Dreamliners with 28 seats in its business class cabins, four of which will be the “Business Elite” suites arranged in a 1-2-1 layout. They will be loaded with features unique to business class travel. First, the seats will convert to beds that are 78 inches long and 22.5 inches wide. The two center suites can be opened and combined into a double bed. The suites will also have 52-inch walls and sliding doors.
The technology of the Business Elite suites truly stands out. Perhaps the most impressive feature will be their 32-inch monitors, larger than in business class on any other airline. The seats will also have speakers integrated into the headrests, so passengers won’t need headphones. Other tech features will include multiple USB and AC power outlets and wireless charging pads.
Riyadh Air is also adding distinctive design elements such as gold and marble-style accents and mood lighting.
The airline wants the Business Elite suites to replace first-class seats, which won’t be on its Dreamliners. So far, they have not announced a price for booking one of the suites.
“And what you would expect to receive by way of service and amenity in Business Elite will be at the standard of the best of first class,” said Riyadh Air’s CEO, Tony Douglas.
Etihad Airways First-Class Cabins an Expensive Luxury Experience
Riyadh Air’s Business Elite suites will give passengers an alternative to other luxurious and expensive seating options like the Etihad Airways First-Class Apartments on their Airbus A380 aircraft. These large compartments have unique features like private minibars, private lavatories with high-end toiletries, and even in-flight showers. There are nine of the Apartments on each A380.
The Etihad Airways Apartments also have leather armchairs and separate beds. They do have 24-inch touchscreen monitors, quite a bit smaller than monitors in the Riyadh Air Business Elite suites.
The gourmet meals really stand out on the Etihad Airways Apartments. A recent menu offered many choices including caviar, beef tenderloin, truffle polenta, and a mocha mascarpone tarte.
All of this comes at a very high cost, with a typical flight costing between $12,000 and $15,000.
Emirates Provides Unlimited Caviar and Champagne
Emirates’ first-class accommodations also offer luxurious features. These include suites with closing doors, unlimited caviar and champagne, meals on demand, and pajamas. The Emirates A380s also have a bar and showers.
Like the Etihad Apartments, Emirates’ first-class suites are very expensive. A round-trip flight between New York and Dubai can cost more than $22,000.
Qatar Airways Offer Flexible Seating for Couples and Groups
Qatar Airways’ Qsuites are another premium first-class option. They have closing doors, flexible seating for couples and groups, luxury bedding, and dine-on-demand menus. Depending on the route and time of year, passengers flying in the Qsuites will pay between $6000 and $16,000 for a round-trip flight.
With the Riyadh Air Business Elite suites classified as business class, it seems logical that they won’t cost as much as the first-class options from Etihad Airways, Emirates, and Qatar Airways. That may make them popular once they begin flying.
The Riyadh Air flights will take time to become established. Initially, they will install the suites in just two of their 72 Boeing Dreamliners. The first flights will be between Saudi Arabia and two, so far unnamed, European cities. The airline will receive one plane per month starting in 2026, and they plan to serve more than 100 destinations by 2030.
