Saudi Arabia's new national carrier, Riyadh Air, has continued its rapid expansion with the launch of direct flights to Cairo, its fourth destination in just over two weeks after inaugurating commercial operations with flights to London Heathrow.
Flight RX331 departed King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and landed at Cairo International Airport, with the return service operating as RX332. The route is operated by the airline's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, with a second daily service beginning on June 29 to meet demand on one of the Middle East's busiest international air corridors.
The Cairo launch follows the airline's inaugural commercial flight to London Heathrow on June 10, its first domestic service to Jeddah on June 14 and the start of flights to Dubai on June 18. Madrid and Manchester are scheduled to join the network on July 17 and July 23 respectively, as Riyadh Air steadily builds its international footprint.
The airline launched commercial operations with its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flight from Riyadh to London Heathrow, marking the debut of its new long-haul fleet. The London service was brought forward from July 1 after the early delivery of new aircraft, with the Dreamliner arriving in Riyadh in early June, followed shortly by additional deliveries to support the carrier's expansion plans.
The London route also marked the transition from Riyadh Air's "Pathway to Perfect" operational readiness programme, during which the airline conducted daily services using a reserve aircraft to test operational systems and customer experience before launching scheduled commercial operations with its new fleet.
Speaking to the media, Riyadh Air Chief Executive Officer Tony Douglas said the airline could benefit from travellers choosing to avoid other parts of the Gulf because of tensions arising from the Iran-US conflict.
Douglas said the carrier expects to serve 22 cities by March 2027, describing Riyadh Air as "the biggest global aviation startup in modern history."
The airline has placed orders for up to 72 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, as many as 60 Airbus A321neos and 50 Airbus A350 aircraft, providing the capacity needed to support its long-term expansion.
Cairo flight
The airline said the twice-daily Cairo service will cater to strong demand from business travellers, tourists, religious pilgrims and families travelling between Saudi Arabia and Egypt, while reinforcing Riyadh's position as a regional aviation hub.
The expansion forms part of Riyadh Air's ambitious strategy to connect Saudi Arabia to more than 100 destinations worldwide by 2030, in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 aviation objectives.
Riyadh Air has also been steadily strengthening its domestic and regional operations. It launched services to Jeddah with two daily flights, increasing frequencies in response to demand on one of the world's busiest domestic routes. According to aviation analytics firm OAG, the Riyadh-Jeddah route ranked as the world's fifth-busiest domestic air route in 2025, with 9.8 million seats.
Flights to Dubai, another key regional destination, are operated daily by the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner as part of the airline's strategy of linking Riyadh with major business and tourism centres across the region.
The carrier said its modern fleet offers the latest cabin technology, advanced in-flight entertainment, premium seating and Saudi-inspired hospitality designed to deliver a world-class passenger experience.
Backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Riyadh Air is positioning itself as a key driver of the Kingdom's aviation transformation, supporting tourism growth, business travel and economic diversification while establishing Riyadh as a leading global gateway.