Riyadh Air Unveils 3 New Nonstop Global Routes: See All Flights Now

Riyadh Air has added three new nonstop routes — Jeddah (JED), Madrid (MAD) and Manchester (MAN) — bringing the startup carrier’s officially disclosed network to six destinations after earlier announcements for London Heathrow (LHR), Dubai International (DXB) and Cairo International (CAI). The move signals a tangible shift from branding toward network build-out, but the airline’s expansion remains constrained by aircraft availability: only London is currently operating in a highly limited form, with tickets restricted to employees and family.

"In the coming weeks," Riyadh Air said in February when discussing its first deliveries of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, and Reuters has reported the carrier's ordered 787-9s were expected "within months."

Routes, distances and current status

• London Heathrow — 3,070 mi / 4,940 km — Currently operating but limited to employees and family; public tickets not yet available.
• Dubai International — 543 mi / 873 km — Planned.
• Cairo International — 1,001 mi / 1,612 km — Planned.
• Manchester — 3,183 mi / 5,123 km — Planned; announced as an all‑new nonstop link to Riyadh.
• Madrid Barajas — 3,066 mi / 4,935 km — Planned; announced as an all‑new nonstop link to Riyadh.
• Jeddah — 530 mi / 853 km — Planned; a vital domestic trunk route for the carrier.

The carrier has ordered 39 Boeing 787-9s, with 33 options. Riyadh Air said it expected to accept delivery of its first aircraft "in the coming weeks." Until the new Dreamliners arrive, Riyadh Air is operating its LHR link with a single leased technical spare 787-9 from Oman Air. Simple Flying’s reporting lists the initial factory-fresh Dreamliners and their statuses: HZ-RXAA is undergoing final fittings in Charleston; HZ-RXAB has been carrying out test flights at Everett; HZ-RXAC was in Everett after interior work in San Antonio; and HZ-RXAD took its maiden flight last week.

Market context and competitive landscape

Madrid and Manchester represent strategic "white-space" opportunities: Simple Flying notes both cities were among the few in Riyadh Air’s previously disclosed 15-route launch plan that lacked existing nonstop service to Riyadh, potentially giving the carrier unique positioning. However, those cities are not devoid of Saudi connections — Saudia already operates from Jeddah to Manchester daily and to Madrid four times weekly.

By contrast, Jeddah is a hyper‑competitive domestic market. OAG ranked Riyadh–Jeddah the world’s fifth-busiest domestic route in 2025 with 9.8 million seats, up 13% year-over-year and 22% above 2019 levels. Cirium Diio schedule data shows the market averages 142 daily flights roundtrip, with Saudia operating roughly 50 daily flights using a mix of 777, 787, A330 and narrowbodies, and low-cost carriers Flynas and Flyadeal each operating about 46 daily flights.

Outlook

Riyadh Air has not published start dates for the new Jeddah, Madrid and Manchester services. Industry expectation, reflected in Simple Flying reporting, is that the first factory Dreamliners will be deployed to expand London services and then enable broader launch operations to the planned network. For now, the route map is public and growing faster than the carrier’s available fleet — the next weeks and months will determine how quickly Riyadh Air can turn announced routes into scheduled, ticketed services for the general public.