The Saudi carrier, unveiled in 2023, now aims to start operations sometime this year after repeated aircraft delivery delays.
The setback complicates efforts to build the airline from scratch, including hiring and training pilots and cabin crew and preparing to challenge Emirates and Qatar Airways.
Riyadh Air was conceived as post-pandemic travel demand surged, but its debut now comes amid fresh disruption to regional aviation after Iran upended travel.
Can Saudi Arabia's new airline survive launching into the worst fuel crisis in years?
As rivals cut millions of seats, is Riyadh Air's massive expansion a brilliant gamble or a fatal mistake?