Riyadh Air set to begin Pakistan flights on Independence Day

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia’s new airline, Riyadh Air, is set to launch its long-awaited flight operations to Pakistan, with the first service scheduled for August 14, coinciding with Pakistan’s Independence Day.

The airline will begin direct flights to Islamabad on Friday, marking a new step in air connectivity between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Services to Lahore are scheduled to start on August 18, according to details shared ahead of the launch.

Under the initial schedule, Riyadh Air will operate seven flights every week to Islamabad and three weekly flights to Lahore, giving passengers more options for direct travel between the two countries.

The launch is expected to strengthen links between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, which have extensive business, tourism and people-to-people connections. A large Pakistani community also lives and works in Saudi Arabia, making regular and convenient air services particularly important.

Riyadh Air plans to operate Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on its Pakistan services. The wide-body aircraft is designed for long-haul routes and is expected to provide passengers with a modern travel experience.

The airline’s entry into the Pakistani market is also being viewed as potentially beneficial for the country’s aviation and employment sectors. Sources said the arrival of the new carrier could create new job opportunities and support related businesses connected to aviation and passenger services.

The launch comes as Saudi Arabia continues to expand its aviation sector as part of its broader efforts to strengthen international connectivity and develop Riyadh as a major global travel hub.

For Pakistan, the new routes could provide another boost to direct connectivity with the Gulf region while increasing competition in the market.

The timing of the launch has also added symbolic significance. Beginning operations on Pakistan’s Independence Day gives the airline’s arrival an additional diplomatic and commercial dimension, linking a major new aviation service with an important national occasion.

The Islamabad route will become Riyadh Air’s first connection with Pakistan, followed shortly by Lahore.

With 10 weekly flights planned across the two Pakistani cities, the new service is expected to offer greater flexibility to travellers while strengthening the growing aviation relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

The launch will now put Riyadh Air’s ambitious international expansion plans into operation in one of South Asia’s most important aviation markets.