Futuristic airline, NEOM, is set to launch in Saudi Arabia by the end of 2024, offering flyers a completely different travel experience, according to CEO, Klaus Goersch.
The carrier is named after Neom, the planned city in the Tabuk Province of north-western Saudi Arabia. The city will cover 26 500sqkm, 33 times the size of New York City. So far, the project has US$500m (R9,14bn) in funding to become a high-tech mega hub of Saudi Arabia.
Says Goersch, ex-COO of British Airways and Air Canada, speaking about what passengers can expect from NEOM: “Just imagine if your bags were collected from your home or office and delivered to the hotel or residence you were going to. Imagine if biometrics were advanced enough to recognise you via facial recognition as soon as you walked in a building, security clearing you for travel without the need for even going through a gate – let alone having to bother with a visa.”
From 2026, the airline will be free to use new innovative aircraft, be they electric, hydrogen-powered, or supersonic, according to Goersch. The carrier will also make use of sustainable aviation fuel and offer locally sourced food on board.
“And just imagine if the time of your meeting changed by a few hours and you were able to change your flight to a later one, without hassle or cost. Better still, imagine you are collecting loyalty points at the airport – where the whole place is lounge-style service – as well as while flying and when using the facilities in your destination (in Saudi Arabia), because everything is owned by the same company,” he adds.
