New Delhi, March 13 -- Saudi Arabia's new airline, Riyadh Air, is set to launch operations this year and is exploring potential partnerships with Air India and IndiGo to strengthen its presence in the Indian market, according to a report by news agency.

Speaking on Wednesday (March 12), Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas emphasized the importance of the Indian subcontinent for the airline. He also confirmed ongoing discussions with Boeing and Airbus to expand the fleet with wide-body aircraft, including the Boeing 777X and Airbus A350-1000.

The airline plans to start with a fleet of 60 narrow-body A321 neos and 72 wide-body B787-9 Dreamliners. It aims to connect Saudi Arabia to over 100 global destinations by 2030.

India is one of the faste...