Riyadh: Photo: Shutterstock New Direct Route from Riyadh. Lufthansa is launching a new direct route from Riyadh to Munich starting October 2025.
Beginning October 26, 2025, Lufthansa will launch a new direct route between Munich and Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.
The route will operate three times a week throughout the year and will add to the airline's daily flights from Riyadh to Frankfurt. This move is expected to increase Lufthansa's flight capacity in Saudi Arabia by about 50%. The route was previously operated until 2017 before being discontinued due to operational reasons and changes in the network plan. Now, with increasing demand and upcoming international events in the kingdom, Lufthansa is making a strategic move to strengthen its presence in the Saudi market.
Sadia Mohammed, General Manager Sales of the Lufthansa Group in Saudi Arabia, stated: "Munich is one of the most popular destinations in Western Europe for our customers. The airport itself offers a convenient and pleasant transfer experience, whether passengers continue to their next destination or stay to experience the city and the stunning surrounding area, with its castles and picturesque lakes at the foot of the Alps."
Lufthansa's new route joins a significant expansion of flight capacity to Saudi Arabia by European airlines:
ITA: Five weekly flights from Riyadh and three flights from Jeddah to Rome.
Eurowings: Seven weekly flights from Jeddah to Berlin, Cologne, and Stuttgart.
This move highlights Riyadh's transformation into a strategic hot spot in the international aviation market, attracting major airlines ahead of a decade of accelerated growth.
The flights will operate using the modern Airbus A350-900 aircraft with 293 seats in three classes: business, premium economy, and economy, adding to Lufthansa's daily flights from Riyadh to Frankfurt.
Lufthansa Aircraft. Photo: Amit CotlerThe flights to Munich will depart from Riyadh on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 6:25 AM (LT) and will arrive in Munich at 10:25 AM (LT), with ideal connections to Lufthansa's international network.
Return flights will depart from Munich on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays at 9:45 PM and will arrive in Riyadh the next day at 4:50 AM.
The new route is designed to expand connection options for passengers between Saudi Arabia and European, American, and Asian destinations, providing a convenient alternative to flights to Frankfurt.
Munich Airport, rated five stars by Skytrax, is one of Lufthansa's two main hubs and offers connections to about 130 destinations worldwide, mainly to Europe, America, and Asia. The city itself is known for its rich culture, spectacular surrounding nature, and leading international companies like BMW, Siemens, and Allianz. It attracts millions of visitors thanks to events like Oktoberfest and Christmas markets.
Lufthansa has been operating in Saudi Arabia for 65 years and currently operates daily flights from Dammam and Riyadh to Frankfurt. The demand for flights between Riyadh and Europe is on the rise, partly due to the rapid development of the kingdom's capital as part of Saudi Vision 2030, and preparations for hosting Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup.