Riyadh Air has announced three new destinations as the Saudi Arabian carrier continues to build out its international network. The airline will launch flights to Dhaka, Kuala Lumpur and Malaga, adding to a growing list of planned services from its base in Riyadh.
The new routes join previously announced links to Jeddah, Dubai, Cairo, London, Madrid and Manchester. Riyadh Air says all of the flights will be operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, of which it currently has six.
The expansion marks another step in the rapid growth of the new national airline, which is positioning itself as a long-haul carrier with a wide international reach. The choice of destinations also gives the airline a mix of South Asian, Southeast Asian and European routes.
Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur are both significant markets for travel to and from the Gulf, with strong demand from workers, tourists and visitors connecting through the region. Malaga adds a leisure destination in southern Spain to Riyadh Air’s early route map.
The airline has not yet given full details on launch dates, frequencies or fares for the newly announced services. But the latest announcement indicates that Riyadh Air is moving quickly to expand beyond the handful of routes first revealed for the carrier.
Riyadh Air is one of the headline aviation projects linked to Saudi Arabia’s wider tourism and economic plans. The carrier has been presented as a major part of the country’s effort to attract more visitors and strengthen its role as a global transport hub.
Its growing network also reflects the airline’s strategy of entering both business and leisure markets. European capital and regional routes sit alongside major Asian cities, suggesting an attempt to serve a broad range of passengers from the start.
Operating the new services with Boeing 787-9 aircraft gives the airline a long-range fleet suitable for intercontinental flying. With six Dreamliners already in its possession, Riyadh Air appears to be preparing for a phased rollout of routes across multiple continents.
The new destinations come as competition intensifies among Middle Eastern airlines seeking to capture long-haul demand. Riyadh Air’s progress will be closely watched as it moves from announcement phase towards full operations.
