Riyadh Air expands Asian network
Riyadh Air is expanding its Asian network with new services from Riyadh to Islamabad, Lahore and Manila, with tickets now on sale. Flights to Islamabad will launch on August 14, followed by Lahore on August 18 and Manila on September 9, 2026. The Pakistan routes will cater to business, leisure, work and family travellers, including the large Pakistani expatriate community in Saudi Arabia, while providing onward connections across the Middle East and Europe.
The daily Manila service will support growing demand between Saudi Arabia and the Philippines, including business, education, leisure and family travel. All three routes will be operated using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners featuring Riyadh Air’s latest cabin experience. The expansion supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 ambitions and strengthens Riyadh’s position as a growing global aviation and connectivity hub.
flynas launches Riyadh-Kochi flights
Saudi low-cost carrier flynas will launch three weekly direct flights between Riyadh and Kochi, India, starting September 1, further expanding its international network and presence in the Indian market. The new service will strengthen air connectivity between Saudi Arabia and India while providing travellers with additional options between the Kingdom and Kerala’s major coastal and commercial hub.
Following the launch, flynas will operate 39 weekly flights between Saudi Arabia and India. The airline will connect Riyadh with six Indian cities: Delhi, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Kozhikode, Mumbai and Kochi. flynas also operates weekly direct services between Dammam and Lucknow. The expansion supports the airline’s continued growth in India and aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 tourism and aviation objectives, which aims to expand the Kingdom’s position as a major global travel hub.
Embraer Q2 revenue jumps 23 per cent
Embraer reported record second-quarter revenue of $2.2 billion, up 23 per cent year-on-year, supported by stronger aircraft deliveries and improved performance across its businesses.
Adjusted EBIT reached $296.9 million, with a 13.3 per cent margin, while adjusted net income increased to $218.6 million. The company delivered 65 aircrafts, its strongest second-quarter performance in 16 years, taking first-half deliveries to 109.
Its backlog reached a record $34.5 billion, up 16 per cent year-on-year. Defence & Security revenue rose 38 per cent, Executive Aviation increased 32 per cent, Services & Support grew 24 per cent, and Commercial Aviation rose 8 per cent. Embraer also raised its 2026 guidance, forecasting an adjusted EBIT margin of 10-10.6 per cent and adjusted free cash flow, excluding Eve, of at least $400 million, double its previous minimum target of $200 million for 2026.
Air Arabia H1 profit falls 51 per cent
Air Arabia reported a 51 per cent decline in first-half net profit to Dh374 million, as regional conflict, airspace closures, reduced capacity and record-high fuel prices affected operations. Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2026, fell 1 per cent to Dh3.48 billion, while passenger numbers declined 14 per cent to more than 8.7 million.
The airline maintained an average seat load factor of 83 per cent. Second-quarter net profit dropped 77 per cent to Dh96 million, with revenue down 3 per cent to Dh1.68 billion. Despite the challenging environment, Air Arabia continued its expansion, adding six aircraft to bring its fleet to 96 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. The carrier also launched five new routes across its hubs in the UAE, Morocco, Egypt and Pakistan, while maintaining its focus on network connectivity and cost management.