Etihad Airways has expanded its presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the launch of direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Medina, reinforcing its growing regional network and commitment to serving religious, business, and leisure travelers. The first flight, operated earlier this week, departed fully booked, underlining strong market demand for the new route.
Delta Air Lines has announced the launch of a landmark new route between its primary hub in Atlanta (ATL) and Riyadh (RUH), set to begin in October 2026. The move marks Delta’s entry into the Middle East market, furthering the airline’s long-term global expansion strategy and aligning with the growing commercial and economic partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia.
Flyadeal, Saudi Arabia’s low-cost airline, has confirmed its entry into the Syrian market following the lifting of Western sanctions, marking a major milestone in regional air connectivity. The airline announced that it will launch new scheduled services to Damascus starting October 1, 2025, with routes connecting Jeddah and Riyadh directly to the Syrian capital.
Aviation Blade Services (ABS) has entered into a strategic partnership with GDC Middle East (GDCME) to establish a new helicopter rotor blade repair facility in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This initiative represents a major step forward in developing the Kingdom’s aerospace infrastructure and enhancing its ability to provide in-country maintenance solutions.
FedEx has marked a major milestone in its global cargo network with the launch of its first dedicated flight to Saudi Arabia. On September 2, 2025, a Boeing 777 Freighter landed at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH), signaling the integrator’s expanded commitment to the Middle East region.
British Airways has unveiled a significant expansion of its long-haul schedule for the summer 2026 season, reflecting a strong recovery in demand for leisure and business travel across key global markets. The airline is set to boost capacity from both London Heathrow and London Gatwick, with a particular focus on destinations in Asia, North America, and the Caribbean.
Lufthansa has announced the return of its nonstop service between Munich and Riyadh, commencing 26 October 2025. The route will operate three times a week, departing Munich at 21:45 and arriving in Riyadh at 04:50 local time the following day. The return flight departs Riyadh at 06:25, arriving back in Munich at 10:25, allowing passengers smooth onward connections across Lufthansa’s…
ITA Airways has announced a major expansion of its codeshare agreement with the Lufthansa Group, significantly enhancing connectivity to key intercontinental markets across Africa and Asia. The extended agreement, effective for travel from September 2, 2025, enables passengers of both airline groups to access a broader network of destinations via Rome Fiumicino, Frankfurt, Munich, and Brussels.
Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s newly established airline, will commence daily flights to London Heathrow Airport starting October 26, 2025, marking a major milestone in its international expansion strategy. The service will be operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, reflecting the airline’s commitment to offering a modern and premium travel experience as part of its Winter 2025 (W25) schedule.
Flynas of Saudi Arabia and Gulf Air of Bahrain have officially launched a reciprocal codeshare partnership, aiming to strengthen regional connectivity and offer greater travel flexibility across their networks. The agreement marks a strategic alignment between two of the Gulf region’s prominent carriers.
