Saudia, the national airline of Saudi Arabia, is set to make travel easier for thousands of Malayalis living in the Gulf. The carrier has announced direct Riyadh–Kozhikode flights starting February 1, officially adding Kozhikode (Calicut) as its seventh destination in India.

Kozhikode now joins Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi and Lucknow on Saudia’s India network, further strengthening Saudi Arabia–India air connectivity.

The airline will operate four weekly flights from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh to Kozhikode, and ticket bookings are already live on Saudia’s website and mobile app. The new route is especially significant for the large Malayali expatriate community in Saudi Arabia, as well as travellers heading for business trips, family visits, Hajj and Umrah.

Saudia said coordination is currently underway with Kozhikode International Airport authorities to finalise operational arrangements for the launch. With this expansion, Saudia’s global network now connects passengers to over 100 international destinations across four continents.

At present, Saudia operates 58 weekly flights between India and Saudi Arabia. The addition of Kozhikode is expected to increase flight availability, reduce layovers, and offer more direct travel options during busy seasons.