Saudi Arabia’s new airline, Riyadh Air, a Public Investment Fund (PIF) company, has announced daily services between Riyadh and Cairo using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, the company announced on February 25, as the Saudi carrier takes its first steps into commercial operations.
The Riyadh-Cairo corridor ranks among the busiest air routes globally, with around 2.70mn passengers recorded as of December 31, 2025. The airline did not specify an exact launch date, saying only that services would begin soon.
Chief Executive Officer Tony Douglas said the route had been selected to serve a market aligned with the carrier’s broader ambitions. “The launch of our commercial service to Cairo marks a true beginning of our journey to connect Riyadh to the world and the world to Riyadh,” Nemnna reported him as saying on February 25.
“This route has been carefully selected to serve a key market that aligns with our ambition to become a global destination and a significant contributor to Vision 2030,” the official said.
Cairo joins previously announced routes to London Heathrow and Dubai, with further destinations expected to be revealed in the coming weeks. The carrier is also preparing to receive its first aircraft following its operational readiness phase as it continues to tackle Gulf rivals.
Riyadh Air has introduced a loyalty programme called ‘Sfeer’, which will offer benefits including complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi for passengers travelling to and from Egypt. The airline plans to expand its network to more than 100 destinations by 2030.
Douglas said the airline intended to redefine the travel experience. “We look forward to welcoming our guests aboard our state-of-the-art Dreamliners to experience our distinctive Saudi hospitality and redefine the future of air travel,” Mubasher reported on February 25.