Riyadh Air began three-times-weekly flights between Riyadh and Bangkok on September 2, its latest addition as the Saudi flag carrier builds out an international network centred on the kingdom’s capital, according to a social media post seen by Emerging Travel on September 3.
Riyadh Air carried its first passengers only this year, and each new Asian destination is a building block in Saudi Arabia’s bid to turn Riyadh into a connecting hub to rival Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, drawing transit traffic between Europe, Asia and Africa that currently flows through its Gulf neighbours. Bangkok is one of three destinations the airline is adding this month, expanding its map from 11 cities to 14.
The airline operates the route with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners between King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, according to a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency. The service connects Saudi Arabia with one of Southeast Asia’s main destinations and offers travellers from Bangkok direct access to Riyadh.
Bangkok will be followed by daily flights to Manila from September 9, the airline’s first route to the Philippines, targeting Saudi Arabia’s large Filipino expatriate community, and a three-times-weekly service to Manchester from September 19, its second UK destination after London Heathrow. The additions will lift Riyadh Air’s two-way monthly capacity by about 19% to around 265,700 seats, according to schedule data.
Riyadh Air is wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the sovereign wealth fund driving Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification, and was created to help make Riyadh a global aviation hub.