Riyadh Air launches inaugural flight and expands network
The Saudi carrier began operations with a Riyadh‑London flight, received regulatory approvals and announced new routes as it targets rapid growth.
Riyadh Air, owned by the Public Investment Fund, launched its inaugural commercial flight on 10 June, flight RX401 from Riyadh to London Heathrow aboard a Boeing 787‑9 Dreamliner, marking the debut of the airline’s Dreamliner fleet (AlArabiya). The carrier received an Air Operator Certificate from the General Authority of Civil Aviation to commence flight operations, a decision announced in a statement released on Sunday (ArabNews.pk), and later obtained U.S. flight approval (AlMonitor).
The airline’s network has expanded to nine cities and it has begun selling tickets for three new international destinations (AlArabiya). Riyadh Air will launch a flight to Malaga on 14 July, to Kuala Lumpur on 30 July and to Dhaka on 7 August (AlArabiya).
Riyadh Air received U.S. flight approval following its first commercial flights (AlMonitor). The carrier also secured the Air Operator Certificate from the Saudi aviation authority, enabling it to start operations (ArabNews.pk).
The airline aims to connect over 100 international cities by 2030 and to contribute more than $20 billion to the Kingdom’s economy (ArabNews.pk).
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