KAIA Welcomes Riyadh Air’s First Flight as Part of Its Domestic Network Expansion

King Abdulaziz International Airport welcomed Riyadh Air’s first domestic flight as part of the airline’s expansion plan to strengthen its domestic route network. The service will operate two daily flights between Riyadh and Jeddah, contributing to the growth of domestic air traffic and enhancing connectivity between the Kingdom’s major destinations.

 

On board the inaugural flight were H.E. Dr. Tawfig Al-Rabiah, Minister of Hajj and Umrah, H.E. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), along with a number of GACA and Riyadh Air executives.

 

They were received upon arrival by Eng. Raed bin Ibrahim Al-Mudaiheem, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jeddah Airports Company; Eng. Mazen bin Mohammed Johar, Chief Executive Officer of Jeddah Airports Company; and several leaders from the government and security entities operating at the airport.

 

This milestone comes as part of the joint efforts between Jeddah Airports Company and Riyadh Air to enhance domestic flight capacity and provide travelers with more flexible and higher-quality travel options.

 

Eng. Mazen bin Mohammed Johar, Chief Executive Officer of Jeddah Airports Company, stated:

“We are proud at Jeddah Airports to welcome Riyadh Air’s inaugural flights on its new domestic route between Jeddah and Riyadh, which reflects the advanced level of collaboration across the aviation sector. This step contributes to strengthening air connectivity between the Kingdom’s two most important cities and supports efforts aimed at enhancing service quality and expanding travel options for passengers, in line with the objectives of the national aviation sector.”

 

Eng. Mazen added that the continued growth in operational traffic reflects King Abdulaziz International Airport’s position as a major aviation hub. During the first quarter of 2026, the airport served more than 14.8 million passengers across nearly 84,000 flights. The significant expansion in destinations and travel options contributes to strengthening air connectivity, supporting the Aviation Program derived from the National Aviation Strategy and advancing the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

 

Tony Douglas, Chief Executive Officer of Riyadh Air, said:

“The launch of our flights to Jeddah marks a significant milestone in serving a key segment of business and cultural tourism travelers. In line with our ambition to become a global airline and a major contributor to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, we look forward to welcoming our guests onboard to experience our distinctive and authentic Saudi hospitality, while connecting these two cities and continuing to redefine the future of air travel.”

 

King Abdulaziz International Airport provides travelers with access to flight schedules and timings, including Riyadh Air flights, through the airport’s website, kaia.sa, as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance the passenger experience and provide operational information in an accessible manner.