3 weeks ago
Riyadh Air launches Mumbai flights, eyes second India destination
A brand-new airline from Saudi Arabia, called Riyadh Air, has started flying to India.
Its very first Indian city is Mumbai, and the planes fly there every day.
The airline is new because it only started carrying passengers in June.
It wants to add a second Indian city before the year ends.
Riyadh Air flies big planes called Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
The company's main goal is to connect its home city, Riyadh, with big cities around the world.
Right now it has seven of these big planes, and many more are on order.
The airline hopes to fly to about 100 cities around the world by 2030.
It is also teaming up with Air India so travelers can reach more places inside India.
Saudi Arabia's newest full-service carrier, Riyadh Air, has started daily flights to Mumbai, its first destination in India.
The airline is targeting a second Indian city by the end of this year, though it has not disclosed which one.
Riyadh Air currently operates seven Boeing 787-9s and launched commercial services in June after receiving its first 787-9 Dreamliner.
It plans to serve about 15 destinations by the end of this year, 20-22 by March 2027 and more than 40 by the end of next year, aiming for around 100 globally by 2030.
The carrier has chosen Air India as its sole India partner and focuses on point-to-point demand from Riyadh rather than connecting traffic.
- Who
- Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's newest full-service carrier, led commercially by Chief Commercial Officer Vincent Coste, with Air India as its sole India partner.
- What
- Riyadh Air commenced operations in India with daily flights to Mumbai and is targeting a second Indian city by the end of this year.
- Where
- Mumbai, India, connected to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which is emerging as a major aviation hub.
- When
- The flights follow the airline's launch of commercial services in June, with expansion plans running through 2030.
- Why
- India offers significant growth potential, and Mumbai was chosen for its strong passenger and cargo demand to Saudi Arabia, supporting Riyadh Air's point-to-point strategy under Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 programme.
Key facts
- Airline
- Riyadh Air
- First India destination
- Mumbai (daily flights)
- Aircraft in operation
- Seven Boeing 787-9s
- Fleet order book
- 72 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, 60 Airbus A321neos and future Airbus A350-1000s
- Network targets
- About 15 destinations by end of this year; 20-22 by March 2027; more than 40 by end of next year; around 100 by 2030
- India partner
- Air India (sole partner for domestic connectivity)
- Chief Commercial Officer
- Vincent Coste
Quotes
Vincent Coste
Chief Commercial Officer, Riyadh Air
“"Cargo plays a massive role in the economics of the route. Route profitability is driven by the combination of passenger revenue, cargo and costs."”
financialexpress.com
“"Flying into India is a big milestone because we see a great opportunity for the Indian market with Riyadh Air."”
financialexpress.com
Sources
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