Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: Shutterstock American airline Delta Air Lines continues to expand its international operations with the launch of a new direct flight route between Atlanta, its main hub in the US, and Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.
The service is expected to begin in October 2026 and will operate with three weekly flights.
According to the company, the new route will strengthen business ties, investments, and economic cooperation between the United States and Saudi Arabia, and will be part of Delta's efforts to expand its global destination network.
Delta Air Lines. Photo: SHUTTERSTOCK
Ed Bastian, Delta Air Lines CEO: "The launch of the Riyadh route is an important step in Delta's international growth as we enter our second century of operations. The new flights will connect our customers to a dynamic and growing region, while maintaining the level of service, convenience, and reliability they expect."
The flights will be operated using Airbus A350-900 aircraft and will offer four classes of service: Delta One, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort, and Delta Main.
Business Class passengers will enjoy lie-flat seats, chef-prepared meals, and Missoni-designed toiletries in their wallets. In addition, all passengers will enjoy complimentary internet access and a wide range of in-flight entertainment.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: Shutterstock
Riyadh is considered a developing business, cultural, and tourist center. The goal of the kingdom's Vision 2030 plan is to promote the local economy and open the country to the world. The new line is expected to strengthen Riyadh's position as a key transportation and business hub in the Middle East.
Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Tourism, welcomed the move: "We congratulate Delta on opening the new route to Riyadh and look forward to the opportunities the service will bring to tourists and travelers around the world. This is a significant step in strengthening ties between the countries, which will contribute to tourism, business, and cultural exchange."
With the opening of the route to Riyadh, Delta will offer Saudi passengers a convenient connection to more than 150 destinations in the US via just one connecting flight from Atlanta.
The launch of the Riyadh route joins a series of new destinations that Delta is expected to launch in the coming years, including Marrakech, Melbourne, Porto, Hong Kong, Sardinia, and Malta, as part of its expansion strategy towards 2026. The company also resumed flights to Israel in September 2025 after a break due to the security escalation in the region.
Riyadh. Saudi Arabia. Photo: Shutterstock
Riyadh itself seems to be on the map, as Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's new national airline, took off yesterday (Sunday, October 26) for its inaugural flight on the Riyadh-London route, a significant first step on its path to becoming a major player in the aviation industry and realizing its goal of reaching more than 100 destinations by 2030.