By Mohamed Attia
Riyadh Air, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier, has announced Cairo as the second regional destination within its international network, launching daily flights between King Khalid International Airport and Cairo International Airport.
This strategic move strengthens Riyadh Air’s presence on one of the busiest international air routes in the world, offering guests a world-class travel experience aboard its modern Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, which combine advanced operational efficiency, cutting-edge digital technologies, and exceptional levels of comfort.
Tony Douglas, Chief Executive Officer of Riyadh Air, stated that the launch of Cairo as the airline’s third destination—following London and Dubai—marks a new step in its journey to connect Riyadh to the world and the world to Riyadh.
The Cairo launch aligns with Riyadh Air’s strategy to position Riyadh as a global aviation hub and to support the objectives of the National Tourism Strategy and the National Transport and Logistics Strategy under Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to transform the Kingdom into a global centre for tourism and logistics while enhancing air connectivity worldwide.
This launch also forms part of the airline’s operational roadmap, “Path to Takeoff,” designed to ensure the highest levels of operational efficiency and readiness ahead of the commencement of commercial services. Riyadh Air is preparing to receive its aircraft in the coming period to begin international operations to London, Dubai, and now Cairo as its third destination.
Travel indicators between Riyadh and Cairo highlight the strategic importance of this route, given the strong historical, economic, and tourism ties between the two countries. Passenger traffic between the two capitals has reached 2.7 million travellers.
Data also confirms continued rapid growth in travel between Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Cairo ranks as the top international destination for passengers departing from Saudi airports, while Egyptian visitors represent a significant share of total visitors to the Kingdom.
The new service responds directly to growing demand for travel related to Hajj and Umrah, business, and tourism, offering an integrated travel experience tailored to diverse passenger needs.
