Riyadh Air has launched its first domestic flight connecting Riyadh and Jeddah, marking the start of its scheduled operations within the Kingdom.
The inaugural service operated from King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh to King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah on Sunday.
The launch is part of Riyadh Air’s strategy to expand its domestic network and improve connectivity between major cities across Saudi Arabia.
The airline will initially operate two daily flights on the Riyadh–Jeddah route, with frequencies set to increase to three daily flights from June 18 and four daily flights from July 2.
The inaugural flight carried several senior officials and aviation sector representatives, including Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfig Al-Rabiah, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, and Riyadh Air board member Raid Ismail.
They were received upon arrival by Raed Al-Mudaiheem, Chairman of Jeddah Airports Company (JEDCO); Mazen Johar, JEDCO Chief Executive Officer; and representatives of relevant airport authorities.
According to aviation data provider OAG, the Riyadh–Jeddah route was the world’s fifth busiest domestic air route in 2025, with 9.8 million seats, reflecting strong passenger demand.
Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, stated that, “The launch of our new service to Jeddah marks another historic moment in our journey to increase connectivity to Riyadh. This route has been carefully selected to serve a key market for business and cultural travel, aligning with our ambition to become a global airline and a significant contributor to Vision 2030. We look forward to welcoming our guests aboard to experience our distinctive Saudi Hawafa as we connect these two great cities and continue to redefine the future of air travel.”
Mazen Johar, JEDCO Chief Executive Officer, remarked that the new service reflects ongoing integration within the Kingdom’s aviation ecosystem and will contribute to expanding travel options and improving passenger services.
Johar added that King Abdulaziz International Airport handled more than 14.8 million passengers through nearly 84,000 flights in the first quarter of 2026.
Riyadh Air aims to expand its network to more than 100 global destinations in the coming years. The airline said the new domestic route will also support business travel, tourism, and pilgrimage traffic, while strengthening Riyadh’s position as a regional aviation hub.
Passengers can book flights through the Riyadh Air mobile application, its official website, or authorized travel agents. The airline’s loyalty program, Sfeer, offers benefits for early members, including guaranteed best offers, complimentary in-flight Wi-Fi, and reward points from the first flight.
