Saudi airline Riyadh Air launched this Friday the direct route between Madrid and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). This new service complements the seasonal connection with Malaga, which began last Tuesday, July 14, and will operate until September 8 with three weekly frequencies.
The route to the Spanish capital will feature four weekly flights, operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Riyadh Air, launched in 2023 and wholly owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), will also connect to destinations such as Cairo, Dubai, Jeddah, Manchester, and Mumbai.
The airline is a sponsor of Atlético de Madrid, having named their stadium Riyadh Air Metropolitano. According to the company, these new routes to Spain aim to connect Europe with Saudi Arabia's rapidly growing center, in line with the country's Vision 2030, which seeks to attract 150 million visitors and serve 330 million passengers annually by that year.
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft offer four service categories: Business Elite, Business, Premium Economy, and Economy. The Business Elite and Business classes feature a 1-2-1 seat configuration. Riyadh Air promotes its 'Sfeer' loyalty program, which combines Arabic and English terms and offers benefits such as 'non-expiring points' and free onboard Wi-Fi.
The airline began its commercial operations on June 10 with the route to London Heathrow, after receiving three Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner units from a total order of up to 72 aircraft of this model. Riyadh Air aims to operate flights to over 100 destinations by 2030, as part of Saudi Arabia's development strategy.
