Tony Douglas: the experience behind aviation leadership

Tony Douglas is Chief Executive Officer of Riyadh Air, according to the airline’s official leadership page. His career brings experience across airlines, airports and complex infrastructure to Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector.

A career across aviation and infrastructure

His Skift Live speaker biography records his arrival at Riyadh Air in late 2022. It describes earlier leadership positions at Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi Airports, BAA and other major organizations. The breadth of that background spans operating businesses, developing infrastructure and working with government and investment stakeholders.

The leadership lens

For people considering an aviation career, the useful perspective is how many disciplines sit behind an airline. Our editorial takeaway: commercial planning, operations, technology and corporate capability need to work together; leadership is the work of aligning those responsibilities.

Sources and context

Sources: Riyadh Air leadership and Skift Live speaker biography. Checked 15 October 2026. This independently written profile is not an original interview or an endorsement.