Riyadh Air begins operations in Pakistan with inaugural Islamabad flight

Summary ISLAMABAD: Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's newly established national airline, has officially started flight operations to Pakistan, strengthening direct air connectivity between the two countries. The airline's first flight to Pakistan, RX-660, arrived at Islamabad International Airport from Riyadh on Friday evening, marking Riyadh Air's debut in the Pakistani aviation market, according to the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA). PAA Director General Air Vice Marshal Zeeshan Saeed welcomed Riyadh Air's entry into the Pakistani market, describing the new route as a significant development for bilateral air connectivity. AI Generated Summary ISLAMABAD: Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's newly established national airline, has officially started flight operations to Pakistan, strengthening direct air connectivity between the two countries. The airline's first flight to Pakistan, RX-660, arrived at Islamabad International Airport from Riyadh on Friday evening, marking Riyadh Air's debut in the Pakistani aviation market, according to the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA). The inaugural flight carried 69 passengers on arrival and received a ceremonial water salute as it approached the airport terminal. The traditional welcome marked the beginning of a new chapter in commercial air links between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Riyadh Air is scheduled to operate seven flights a week between Riyadh and Islamabad, giving passengers an additional option for direct travel between the two countries. The new service is expected to facilitate business travel, tourism, family visits and other passenger movements between Pakistan and the Kingdom. An inauguration ceremony was subsequently organised at Islamabad International Airport to formally mark the launch of the airline's operations. Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Bin Said Al-Malki attended the ceremony as the chief guest. The event was also attended by Pakistan Airports Authority Director General Air Vice Marshal Zeeshan Saeed, senior government officials and representatives of Riyadh Air. Addressing the ceremony, the Saudi ambassador underscored the importance of the new air service in strengthening the longstanding relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. He noted that improved aviation links could contribute to closer people-to-people contacts and greater economic and commercial engagement between the two countries. PAA Director General Air Vice Marshal Zeeshan Saeed welcomed Riyadh Air's entry into the Pakistani market, describing the new route as a significant development for bilateral air connectivity. He highlighted the role of expanded flight operations in improving passenger mobility and creating opportunities for greater cooperation in the aviation sector. The launch also reflects growing links between the two countries across tourism, trade, investment and other areas. The inauguration ceremony featured a ribbon-cutting and cake-cutting ceremony, formally commemorating Riyadh Air's first scheduled service to Pakistan. Representatives of Riyadh Air also outlined the airline's broader expansion ambitions and expressed interest in developing its presence in the Pakistani market. The airline's entry is expected to provide passengers with greater choice while contributing to increased competition and capacity on the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia air corridor. Following the ceremony, flight RX-660 departed from Islamabad International Airport at 9:56 p.m., carrying 272 passengers on its return journey to Riyadh. The launch comes against the backdrop of longstanding and extensive travel ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Large numbers of Pakistani citizens travel to Saudi Arabia each year for employment, business, religious pilgrimage and family-related purposes, making reliable and frequent air connections between the two countries particularly important. With daily operations planned between Islamabad and Riyadh, Riyadh Air's arrival is expected to further expand available passenger capacity and strengthen links between the two capitals.