Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier set to launch in 2025 and expand operations in 2026, has outlined an initial network of 15 international destinations from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, according to industry scheduling data and aviation reports.
The planned routes span Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, targeting high-demand markets for business, leisure, and diaspora travel. In Africa, Cairo International Airport (CAI) stands out, with 2.3 million annual round-trip passengers between Riyadh and Egypt’s capital, driven by business travelers, tourists, and the Egyptian community in Saudi Arabia.
Asia routes excluding the Middle East include Bangkok (BKK), Jakarta (CGK), Islamabad (ISB), Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Lahore (LHE), Manila (MNL), and Mumbai (BOM). These connections serve growing trade links and visiting friends-and-relatives traffic, particularly the robust Riyadh-Lahore corridor expected to achieve high load factors.
Europe features London Heathrow (LHR), a flagship long-haul route to anchor the brand using Boeing 787 aircraft. Middle East destinations comprise Amman (AMM), Dubai (DXB), and Jeddah (JED), positioning Riyadh Air to compete with carriers like Emirates on competitive Gulf paths while supporting Saudi Vision 2030 tourism goals.
This preliminary network, drawn from Northern Summer 2026 slot allocations (March 29 to October 24), emphasizes connectivity between Europe-South Asia and Asia-Africa, with schedules optimized for transfers at Riyadh. Exact frequencies and launch dates await regulatory approvals and aircraft deliveries.