Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new carrier, has announced daily flights between Riyadh and Cairo, with services set to begin following the delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft in the coming weeks.
Cairo becomes one of three destinations – alongside London and Dubai – that will form the airline’s launch network once commercial operations begin. The route has been selected on the basis of demand, with 2.7 million passengers recorded between the two cities last year, placing it among the busiest air corridors in the world.
“The launch of our commercial service to Cairo marks a true beginning of our journey to connect Riyadh to the world, and the world to Riyadh. This route has been carefully selected to serve a key market that aligns with our ambition to become a global destination and a significant contributor to Vision 2030. We look forward to welcoming our guests aboard our state-of-the-art Dreamliners to experience our distinctive Saudi hospitality and redefine the future of air travel,” Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air said in a statement.
Riyadh Air adds Cairo to launch network alongside London, Dubai
The airline is positioned as a contributor to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the government programme aimed at economic diversification and the growth of tourism.
Riyadh has been identified by the carrier as a hub for business, culture and tourism, while Cairo is cited for its access to both the Egyptian tourism sector – including the recently opened Grand Egyptian Museum – and destinations along the Red Sea coast.
The service will cater to pilgrims, tourists and business travellers, and forms part of a network the airline intends to grow to more than 100 destinations by 2030.
Riyadh Air has also announced the launch of Sfeer, a loyalty programme it describes as the first of its kind in the region. The name derives from the Arabic word for “Ambassador.”
The programme is now open for registration via RiyadhAir.com, with the airline encouraging travellers to sign up ahead of tickets going on sale in order to secure prices and begin accumulating points.
The airline has completed what it describes as a “Pathway to Perfect” phase of operational readiness. Aircraft delivery is expected within weeks, after which commercial services to London, Dubai and Cairo are scheduled to follow.
Riyadh Air has described its approach as digital-native and has indicated that network expansion will continue at pace beyond its three launch destinations.
