Saudi Arabia-based Riyadh Air announced its entry into India with the launch of daily direct flights between Riyadh and Mumbai, starting August 4, 2026. According to reports from PTI, the premium carrier, backed by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), announced that bookings for the daily flight will open from July 6. The new daily air service will be operated by a Boeing B787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, with Flight RX0698 departing Mumbai at 22:05 and arriving in Riyadh at 23:50, while return service RX0697 leaves Riyadh at 14:05 and reaches Mumbai at 20:35. The aircraft will be configured with four cabin classes: Business Elite, Business, Premium Economy and Economy, offering passengers access to Bluetooth audio connectivity, USB charging and Panasonic Avionics' Astrova in-flight entertainment system.
As reported by PTI, the Mumbai-Riyadh route represents a key addition to Riyadh Air's growing network, which now spans nine destinations with more set to be announced in the coming days and weeks. The airline stated that this strengthens its mission to connect the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with major global and regional hubs. Riyadh Air, which was launched in March 2023, aims to connect its flight network to over 100 destinations globally by 2030. CEO Tony Douglas emphasized that the route had been selected to support the airline's ambition to build a global network and contribute to Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 programme. The airline has been rapidly expanding its international presence, having launched London flights on June 10, followed by services to Dubai and Cairo, with flights to Madrid and Manchester beginning later this month.
According to PTI, CEO Tony Douglas stated that with India emerging as one of the fastest-growing aviation markets globally, the airline is delighted to offer travellers a new premium choice and enhanced global connectivity from Mumbai to Riyadh, and onwards to Europe. The Mumbai-Riyadh route will offer onward connectivity to Europe and the Middle East, including London, Madrid, Jeddah and Cairo, catering to both business and leisure travellers from India. The route serves the significant Indian demand for business and leisure travel to Saudi Arabia and Europe, in addition to serving expatriate communities who have a new option for their travels back to India. Ticket sales opened on July 6, 2026 through the airline's website, mobile application and travel agents. The airline is targeting traditional traffic flows comprising largely labour and pilgrims while also attracting onward travellers with its premium offering.
As reported by PTI, the new service positions Riyadh as a key transport hub, offering convenient onward connections for passengers travelling from Mumbai to global destinations such as London and Madrid plus regional cities including Jeddah and Cairo. This first flight from India demonstrates Riyadh Air's commitment to one of the world's largest and fastest-growing aviation markets, providing enhanced connectivity options for passengers traveling between India and the Middle East region. The airline is also offering enrolment in its Sfeer loyalty programme, under which members will receive benefits including complimentary onboard Wi-Fi, no expiry of points and the ability to share points with family and friends. Early members joining as "The Founders" will receive priority access to bookings on new routes.
According to recent data, around 3.4 million Indians travelled to Saudi Arabia in CY 2025, highlighting the significant market opportunity for Riyadh Air's new service. Currently, there are around 30 daily flights (two-way) between India and Riyadh, with Jeddah being the biggest destination with 42 daily flights to/from India. In the competitive India-Saudi Arabia market, IndiGo is the market leader, followed by Air India Express and Saudia. Riyadh Air's entry with its premium offering and four-class cabin configuration aims to differentiate itself from traditional carriers serving the route.
