Saudi Carriers flyadeal and Riyadh Air Expand Asian Networks
Saudi airlines flyadeal and Riyadh Air launched new routes to India and Indonesia to strengthen strategic connections between Riyadh and major Asian markets.
Saudi Arabian aviation is expanding its reach into Asia through new route launches by two major carriers. flyadeal, a low-cost carrier, began non-stop flights between Mumbai, India, and Riyadh on October 3, 2026. Operating five times per week with Airbus A320neo aircraft, the service adds over 7,400 monthly seats and allows passengers to connect to other Saudi cities, including Jeddah and Madinah, on a single booking.
This launch follows flyadeal's entry into the Indian market via Hyderabad in July 2026. Acting CEO Sanjiv Kapoor described India as a strategic priority and one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets, noting that Saudi Arabia is now among India's top three largest international travel markets.
Simultaneously, Riyadh Air, the new national carrier of Saudi Arabia, announced the opening of ticket sales for a three-times-weekly service between Riyadh and Jakarta, Indonesia. Scheduled to begin on November 16, 2026, Jakarta becomes the airline's 16th destination on sale. The route is intended to create a strategic link between the Kingdom and Southeast Asia's largest economy as part of a broader effort to connect global hubs through Riyadh.
