Launch of the first direct regular air route between Riyadh and Madrid

'Al-Eqtisadiah' from Riyadh

Friday, 17 July 2026 14:22 | 2 minutes read

Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's new national carrier owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, today launched its first direct flights to the Spanish capital Madrid, with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft arriving at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas International Airport, announcing the start of the first direct regular air route between Riyadh and Madrid, three days after launching seasonal flights to Málaga.

The new route, operated in cooperation with the Air Connectivity Program, aims to enhance travel between Saudi Arabia and Spain, support economic, tourism and cultural relations between the two countries, as well as expand Saudi Arabia's air connectivity network with multiple international destinations.

Coinciding with the inaugural flight, Riyadh Air signed a memorandum of understanding with Air Europa to enhance connectivity between the two carriers' destination networks and expand travel options across Southern Europe and Latin America.

The operation of the 'Riyadh-Madrid' route represents a new step in Riyadh Air's expansion into the Spanish market, after launching seasonal flights to Málaga on July 14, continuing until September 8, 2026, providing direct flights to the Costa del Sol region.

The new route is expected to contribute to strengthening economic relations between the two countries, given the presence of about 250 Spanish companies operating in Saudi Arabia, and provides direct connectivity with Riyadh, which is experiencing rapid growth as a global logistics and commercial hub under the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

The launch of flights also strengthens Riyadh Air's presence in Spain, extending its strategic partnership with Atlético Madrid as the main sponsor and official partner of the men's and women's teams, as well as its partnership in the naming rights of the 'Riyadh Air Metropolitano' stadium.

Riyadh Air was founded on March 12, 2023, to contribute to the development of the air transport sector and enhance Saudi Arabia's strategic location linking three of the world's most important continents: Asia, Africa and Europe, and to work on raising the competitiveness of national companies in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

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