US, June 11 -- After years of anticipation, planning, and preparation, Riyadh Air has officially reached the starting line of what many believe will become one of the most transformative aviation stories of the decade.

Saudi Arabia is building a major new airport in Riyadh with a planned capacity of 120 million passengers a year by 2030, compared to 53 million at the existing King Khalid International Airport. "We want to bring glamour, we want to bring refinement, we want to bring grace back," Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas told AFP.

A London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Riyadh Air's white and lavender livery took off at 2.30am (2330 GMT Tuesday), putting in motion a flagship project in Saudi Arabia's push to reduce its economic relianc...