KUALA LUMPUR: Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier, has officially launched its inaugural direct service connecting Riyadh and Kuala Lumpur, establishing its first gateway into South-East Asia.
The new non-stop service commenced on July 30, 2026, operating three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays using the airline's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
The flight schedule features an outbound departure from King Khalid International Airport (RUH) at 10.50pm, arriving at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 11.50 am today (July 31).
Return flights depart KLIA at 4.45 pm and touch down in Riyadh at 7.45 pm.
An inaugural ceremony held at KLIA was attended by Saudi Ambassador to Malaysia His Excellency Osamah Dakhel Al-Ahmadi, Transport Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Jana Muniayan, Malaysia Airports managing director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani, and Riyadh Air chief commercial officer Vincent Coste.
In a statement, Riyadh Air chief executive officer Tony Douglas said the route serves as a strategic link to the broader Asean region, supporting Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 ambitions while facilitating travel for business, tourism, and education.
Mohd Izani welcomed the carrier as the ninth Middle Eastern airline to serve KLIA.
He noted that the entry strengthens KLIA’s role as a regional hub while bolstering connectivity for trade, investment, and religious travel, including Malaysian Umrah and Hajj pilgrims.
The route was launched in collaboration with Saudi Arabia's Air Connectivity Programme (ACP). As part of its growth plans, Riyadh Air aims to connect guests to over 100 global destinations by 2030.
