Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s newest national airline, will begin direct services to five major Indian cities, with Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai starting in the summer of 2026. The move marks a bold entry into one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets and underscores the airline’s long-term commitment to India.

While Delhi and Mumbai are natural inclusions as the national and commercial capitals of India, Riyadh Air’s decision to launch services to Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai signals a clear focus on South India. These cities are not only home to thriving industries and technology hubs but also represent strong cultural and economic links with the Middle East.

•Bengaluru, India’s technology capital, sees significant corporate travel tied to IT and innovation sectors.

•Hyderabad, another major IT powerhouse, has deep connections with Gulf markets and a large outbound traffic base.

•Chennai, with its thriving port, automobile, and industrial base, has long-standing ties with the Gulf, including a large pool of expatriates and religious travellers.

For passengers in South India, Riyadh Air’s direct flights will provide faster, more convenient access to Saudi Arabia for business, leisure, and religious travel, reducing the need to transit through Dubai or Doha.

The India–Saudi Arabia air corridor is already among the busiest globally, driven by Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, business ties in sectors like IT, construction, and oil and gas, as well as the large Indian expatriate community in the Kingdom. Riyadh Air’s entry is expected to increase competition, offering travellers more direct options at competitive prices.

Despite the ambitious plan, Riyadh Air is expected to face several hurdles in its India launch. The Indian aviation market is tightly regulated, and new entrants must secure traffic rights, airport slots, and approvals from aviation authorities. With major airports like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru already operating near capacity, slot availability could be a challenge.

Moreover, Indian travellers are highly price-sensitive but also demanding in terms of service quality. To compete with established Gulf carriers like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Saudia, Riyadh Air will need to balance affordability with reliable service and consistent on-time performance. Any operational lapses could quickly erode customer trust.

The airline is expected to deploy Airbus A321-200 aircraft on these routes, an efficient narrowbody suited for flights of 3.5 to 5 hours. However, launching flights to five cities simultaneously is an aggressive strategy, unlike most new entrants who usually begin with one or two routes. Riyadh Air’s broader approach could be aimed at gaining visibility quickly and creating pressure on competitors.

For South Indian passengers, whether professionals heading to Riyadh for work, families visiting relatives in the Gulf, or pilgrims travelling for Hajj and Umrah, the new routes are expected to cut travel time and costs significantly. Direct connectivity will strengthen cultural, economic, and people-to-people ties, while also giving travellers an alternative to existing Gulf hubs.

By the time operations begin in 2026, Riyadh Air will be positioned as a serious new competitor in the India–Middle East corridor, one of the fastest-growing and most competitive aviation markets in the world.