Zawya - Press Releases: Riyadh Airlines launches its first domestic flights to King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah
- Flights will begin with two daily flights, expanding rapidly to four daily flights by July 2, 2026, and will be operated entirely by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft with modern cabins.
The flights contribute to meeting the high demand on the Riyadh-Jeddah route, the fifth busiest domestic air route globally, which recorded 9.8 million seats during 2025.
Members of the "Ambassador" loyalty program will benefit from a range of exclusive advantages, including receiving the "Best Offer Guarantee" when booking, free in-flight internet access, and numerous rewards.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: King Abdulaziz International Airport today, Sunday, received the first domestic flight of Riyadh Airlines, the new national carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as part of its expansion plan to enhance its domestic flight network, with two daily flights between the cities of Riyadh and Jeddah, which contributes to supporting domestic air traffic and raising the level of connectivity between the main destinations in the Kingdom.
On board the flight were His Excellency the Minister of Hajj, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah; His Excellency the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailij; Mr. Raed Ismail, a member of the board of directors of Riyadh Airlines; and a number of other officials from the Authority and Riyadh Airlines. They were received by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jeddah Airports Company, Engineer Raed bin Ibrahim Al-Mudaiheem; the CEO of Jeddah Airports Company, Engineer Mazen bin Mohammed Johar; and a number of officials from government and security sectors operating at the airport.
This launch represents a pivotal step in expanding the carrier’s network of destinations, starting from the capital, Riyadh, where its inaugural flight departed from King Khalid International Airport (RUH) at 9:00 AM and landed at King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) at 10:50 AM.
Riyadh Airlines flights to Jeddah will begin with two daily flights starting today, June 14, increasing to three daily flights starting from June 18, and reaching four daily flights by July 2.
Riyadh Airlines' entry into this route comes at a time of unprecedented demand growth. According to data from OAG, a specialist in aviation research and analysis, the Riyadh-Jeddah route was ranked the fifth busiest domestic air route globally in 2025, with 9.8 million seats. By operating services on this route, Riyadh Airlines supports relevant national strategies and provides seating capacity that will boost the growth of the tourism, business, and economic sectors in the Kingdom.
On this occasion, Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Airlines, said: “The launch of our flights to Jeddah represents a significant milestone in enhancing the connection of the capital, Riyadh, with the world and various destinations. This route was carefully chosen to serve a key segment of business and cultural tourism travelers, in line with our ambition to become a global air carrier and a major contributor to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. We eagerly look forward to welcoming our guests on board our aircraft to experience our authentic and unique Saudi hospitality, as we connect these two cities and continue to redefine the future of air travel.”
For his part, Jeddah Airports CEO Eng. Mazen bin Mohammed Johar added: “We at Jeddah Airports are proud to welcome the first Riyadh flights on its inaugural domestic route between Jeddah and Riyadh. This reflects the advanced level of cooperation between the various components of the aviation sector.” He pointed out that this step contributes to strengthening air connectivity between the Kingdom’s two most important cities and supports efforts to improve service quality and expand travel options for passengers, in line with the objectives of the national aviation sector. Eng. Mazen noted that the continued growth in operations reflects King Abdulaziz International Airport’s position as a major air hub. In the first quarter of 2026, the airport served more than 14.8 million passengers on nearly 84,000 flights, with a significant expansion in destinations and passenger options. This contributes to enhancing air connectivity in implementation of the aviation program stemming from the National Aviation Strategy to achieve the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
The launch of flights to Jeddah is part of the airline's efforts to reach more than 100 global destinations. The vital Riyadh-Jeddah route strengthens key business links and provides seamless access to Jeddah, a major commercial port and strategic gateway for Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages to Makkah and Madinah, as well as a hub for diverse tourist destinations along the Red Sea coast. Furthermore, this route reinforces Riyadh's position as a major transport hub, enabling passengers from Jeddah to seamlessly connect to global destinations such as Dubai, Cairo, Madrid, and Manchester.
Passengers can book their tickets through the Riyadh Airlines app, the website riyadhair.com, or via authorized travel agents and platforms. Guests can also join the airline's "Ambassador" loyalty program as "Founding Members" to receive the "Best Offer Guarantee," free Wi-Fi throughout the flight, and exclusive rewards and benefits starting from their very first trip.
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#Company Data
Flight schedule between Riyadh and Jeddah:
For flights departing from Riyadh (RUH) | Flights departing from Jeddah (JED) |
Flight RX0011: (as of June 14, local time) • Departure from Riyadh: 09:00 • Arrival in Jeddah: 10:50 | Flight RX0012: (as of June 14, local time) • Departure from Jeddah: 12:05 • Arrival in Riyadh: 13:50 |
Flight RX0027: (as of June 14, local time) • Departure from Riyadh: 19:40 • Arrival in Jeddah: 21:30 | Flight RX0028: (as of June 14, local time) • Departure from Jeddah: 22:45 • Arrival in Riyadh: 00:30 (the following day) |
Flight RX0009: (Additional flight from June 18, local time) • Departure from Riyadh: 07:05 • Arrival in Jeddah: 08:55 | Flight RX0010: (Additional flight from June 18, local time) • Departure from Jeddah: 10:10 • Arrival in Riyadh: 11:55 |
Flight RX0017: (Additional flight from July 2, local time) • Departure from Riyadh: 12:45 • Arrival in Jeddah: 14:35 | Flight RX0018: (Additional flight from July 2, local time) • Departure from Jeddah: 15:50 • Arrival in Riyadh: 17:35 |
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