Red Sea Global launches Saudi Arabia’s first seaplane company
- Fly Red Sea transports guests to water-based resorts, as well as offering scenic tours.
Riyadh, 11 October, 2023: Red Sea Global (RSG), the multi-project developer behind the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism destinations, The Red Sea and Amaala, has celebrated the take-off of its first seaplane flight operated by its subsidiary company, Fly Red Sea.
Created to transport guests across crystal-clear waters to The Red Sea’s island resorts, including St. Regis Red Sea Resort and Nujuma, A Ritz Carlton Reserve, it is the first seaplane company launched in the Kingdom.
Managed by a team of aviation specialists, Fly Red Sea’s initial fleet of four Cessna Caravan 208 seaplanes are each equipped with boutique, luxury interiors. The fleet will expand in line with the destination’s development phases, growing to nine seaplanes by 2028 and is expected to increase to more than 20 by 2030.
Each aircraft can accommodate a pilot and up to six guests with luggage for guest transfers to water-based resorts, or up to nine guests for scenic tours across the entire destination.
As a subsidiary of RSG, sustainability is at the core of Fly Red Sea’s ambitions. RSG has chosen to fuel its fleet of seaplanes using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from day one. It is also exploring the possibility of fully electric seaplanes, and is continuing to work closely with ZeroAvia to trial retrofitting Cessna Caravan Seaplanes with hydrogen-electric propulsion technology.
RSG is similarly committed to employing national talent, with the first Saudi seaplane captain’s license already issued to Fly Red Sea, and the first seaplane-specific engineers now hired at the destination.
At Red Sea International Airport, which is the homebase of Fly Red Sea, a dedicated seaplane runway runs in parallel to the main terminal at RSI and eventually will encompass a dedicated seaplane terminal.
The Red Sea is welcoming its first guests this year. Red Sea International Airport is now operational, receiving its first flights last month, and the first two hotels are taking bookings. Upon full completion in 2030, the destination will comprise 50 resorts, offering up to 8,000 hotel rooms and more than 1,000 residential properties across 22 islands and six inland sites. The destination will also include luxury marinas, golf courses, entertainment, F&B, and leisure facilities.
About Red Sea Global
Red Sea Global (RSG - www.redseaglobal.com ) is a closedjoint-stockcompany wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) ofSaudiArabia. It is a vertically integrated real estate developer withadiverse portfolio across tourism, residential,experiences,infrastructure, transport, healthcare, and services. Thisincludes theluxury regenerative tourism destinations The Red Sea, whichbeganwelcoming guests in 2023, and AMAALA, which remains on track towelcomefirst guests in 2025.
A third destination, Thuwal PrivateRetreat, willopen this year, and RSG has also been entrusted withrefurbishment worksat Al Wajh Airport, focused on upgrading the existingterminal andinfrastructure, and building a new international terminal.RSG is acornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s ambition to diversify its economy.Acrossits growing portfolio of destinations, subsidiaries andbusinesses, RSGseeks to lead the world towards a more sustainablefuture, showing howresponsible development can uplift communities, driveeconomies, andenhance the environment.
RSG is the visionary company behind some of the world’s most ambitious development ventures, including luxury regenerative tourism destinations such as The Red Sea and AMAALA.
Across its portfolio, RSG leverages the most innovative concepts, strategies, and technologies to deliver projects that actively enhance the wellbeing of customers, communities, and environments.
