RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA— Riyadh Air (RX) plans an initial network of 15 international destinations as it prepares for commercial operations from King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh (RUH). The airline aims to build a global hub linking major cities across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
The startup carrier Riyadh Air has outlined destinations including London Heathrow Airport, London (LHR), Dubai International Airport, Dubai (DXB), and Cairo International Airport, Cairo (CAI). These plans appear in the airport’s seasonal slot coordination report for the upcoming Summer 2026 aviation schedule.
Riyadh Air 15 Routes Revealed
Riyadh Air has submitted its preliminary network plan through the airport slot coordination process. Aviation schedules follow two global seasons: winter and summer. The Summer 2026 season runs from March 29 to October 24, and airlines submit intended routes during this period.
Riyadh’s airport slots are coordinated by Airport Coordination Limited (ACL), the body responsible for allocating takeoff and landing timings at many major airports worldwide. Riyadh Air’s submission in the seasonal report signals network intent rather than confirmed operations.
The airline is still preparing for its first commercial passenger flights. Route listings in the slot database indicate planning guidance and do not guarantee launch dates, flight frequencies, or aircraft assignments.
The disclosed network includes 15 cities across four regions, reflecting the airline’s strategy to build a large transfer hub in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Simple Flying reported.
Proposed Riyadh Air Network
Africa
- Cairo International Airport, Cairo (CAI)
Asia (excluding the Middle East)
- Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok (BKK)
- Islamabad International Airport, Islamabad (ISB)
- Soekarno–Hatta International Airport, Jakarta (CGK)
- Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
- Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore (LHE)
- Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila (MNL)
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai (BOM)
Europe
- London Heathrow Airport, London (LHR)
- Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, Madrid (MAD)
- Manchester Airport, Manchester (MAN)
- Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris (CDG)
Middle East
- Queen Alia International Airport, Amman (AMM)
- Dubai International Airport, Dubai (DXB)
- King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah (JED)
Slot Usage Flights Already Operating to London
Riyadh Air has already been operating flights between King Khalid International Airport (RUH) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR) since October. These services currently do not carry regular passengers.
The flights are operated to comply with Heathrow’s use-it-or-lose-it slot regulation, which requires airlines to use at least 80 percent of their allocated slots. The slots were obtained through the BMI slot release process previously managed by British Airways (BA).
Once the airline officially launches passenger services, these flights will become bookable through standard distribution channels.
Strong Demand Drives Route Selection
Many of the planned routes represent some of the largest travel markets from Riyadh. Strong local demand plays a key role in airline hub economics because point-to-point passengers typically generate higher yields than connecting travelers.
However, several routes in South Asia and Southeast Asia mainly serve diaspora and visiting friends and relatives traffic. While yields tend to be lower, the large passenger volumes help maintain strong load factors.
Recent booking data illustrates the scale of demand from Riyadh:
- Cairo: about 2.3 million round-trip passengers annually
- Dubai: about 2.2 million passengers
- Islamabad: about 600,000 passengers
- Manila: about 510,000 passengers
- Lahore: about 375,000 passengers
- Mumbai: about 267,000 passengers
- Jakarta: about 149,000 passengers
- Bangkok: about 141,000 passengers
This mix of high-volume markets and strategic global cities aligns with Riyadh Air’s long-term goal of becoming a major connecting hub similar to Emirates (EK), Etihad Airways (EY), and Qatar Airways (QR).
Heavy Competition on Most Planned Routes
Most of the proposed destinations already have established airline service from Riyadh. Industry data shows that 13 of the 15 routes would face direct competition from at least one airline.
Routes such as Amman, Cairo, Dubai, Islamabad, Jeddah, Lahore, London, Manila, and Mumbai already host multiple carriers. For example, up to seven airlines operate between Riyadh and Lahore.
Saudi Arabia’s current flag carrier Saudia (SV) already serves many of these markets, including Kuala Lumpur. Some routes are scheduled only seasonally, which could create opportunities for Riyadh Air to provide year-round service.
Three Routes Currently Lack Direct Service
Among the proposed destinations, only a few currently lack direct flights from Riyadh:
- Jakarta (CGK) last had service in 2025
- Madrid (MAD) last had service in 2022
- Manchester (MAN) previously had limited operations, reportedly around 2017
The success of these routes will depend heavily on Riyadh Air’s ability to develop a strong connecting hub. Transit passengers from South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East could play a key role in sustaining these long-haul flights.
Fleet Strategy Supports Network Growth
Riyadh Air’s expansion plans rely on a large aircraft order designed for both short and long-haul routes. The airline has committed to operating:
- Airbus A321neo narrowbody aircraft for regional routes
- Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner widebody jets for long-haul markets
- Airbus A350-1000 aircraft for high-capacity international routes
This fleet mix will allow the airline to connect regional traffic into long-haul services through Riyadh.
The exact launch timing for each destination remains unclear. No confirmed schedules, aircraft types, or flight frequencies have been released yet.
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