Riyadh Air has officially entered one of the world's largest aviation markets, opening ticket sales for its inaugural service to India with the launch of daily flights between Riyadh and Mumbai. Starting 4 August 2026, the airline will operate daily flights between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and King Khalid International Airport, using its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet.
The launch marks Riyadh Air's first destination in India and expands its international network to nine destinations, reflecting the carrier's rapid growth as it builds towards becoming a global airline under Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 strategy.
A strategic move into one of aviation's biggest markets
India has emerged as one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world, driven by rising middle-class incomes, expanding international travel, and strong business and expatriate links with the Gulf. For Saudi Arabia, India represents a strategically important market, supporting millions of passenger journeys annually across business travel, tourism, religious travel, and one of the world's largest expatriate communities.
The new Mumbai service is expected to strengthen connectivity between the two countries while giving travellers easier access to Riyadh and onward destinations across Europe and the Middle East.
Strengthening Riyadh's global hub ambitions
Passengers travelling from Mumbai will be able to connect through Riyadh to destinations including London, Madrid, Jeddah, and Cairo, supporting Saudi Arabia's ambition to establish Riyadh as one of the region's leading international aviation hubs. The new service also complements the Kingdom's wider aviation strategy, which aims to connect Saudi Arabia with more than 250 destinations worldwide and handle 330 million passengers annually by 2030.
Talking about the launch, Tony Douglas said India is one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets and a natural addition to the airline's expanding network.
He added that the Mumbai route aligns with Riyadh Air's ambition to become a global carrier while contributing to Vision 2030 by strengthening connectivity between Saudi Arabia and key international markets. As Riyadh Air continues expanding its international footprint, India becomes another important milestone in the airline's strategy to position Saudi Arabia at the centre of global air travel.
