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Flyadeal CEO reveals plans for premium economy and long-haul network. September 7th, 2026 at 10:10 AM EDT Skift take. Flyadeal's move into connecting flights and premium economy marks a natural next step for a budget carrier scaling into long-haul. Flyadeal, the budget subsidiary of Saudi Arabian national carrier Saudia, is preparing to add connecting flights onto its existing point-to-point network, according to acting CEO Sanjiv Kapoor. "Until now, the model for Flyadeal has been a point-to-point airline where connections were not part of our strategy," he told Skift on Monday. "But in the coming weeks, we're going to introduce connecting flights with origin and destination fares and seamless connections." The network changes come as the airline's fleet continues to evolve. Flyadeal will take delivery of single-aisle Airbus A321neos in the second half of next year and A330neo widebodies in the fourth quarter of 2027. Aircraft delivery delays have clipped network expansion plans across the industry. Air India is still waiting on a large orderbook to expand its network, while new Saudi carrier Riyadh Air's launch was repeatedly pushed back by supply chain and certi

Riyadh Air launches new direct Riyadh-Bangkok service. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 03, 2026 * Riyadh Air has launched a new direct flight service between Riyadh and Bangkok, initially operating three times a week. * The frequency of the service is scheduled to increase to daily flights (seven per week) starting in October. * The route, operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, is expected to strengthen tourism and trade links between Thailand and Saudi Arabia. * This non-stop service provides travelers with a direct option to Thailand, avoiding connections through other Middle Eastern hubs like Doha or Dubai. Riyadh Air has launched direct flights between Riyadh and Bangkok, initially operating three services a week before increasing the frequency to seven flights a week in October. Chiravadee Khunsub, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) deputy governor for international marketing in Europe, America, the Middle East and Africa, welcomed the inaugural flight at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Thursday (September 3, 2026). TAT expects the route to strengthen tourism and transport links between Thailand and Saudi Arabia while supporting opportunities in trade and investment. It is also intended to help rebuild the Saudi visitor market following a decline in arrivals this year. Three weekly flights before daily service. TAT said the inaugural flight left King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh at 10.15pm on Wednesday (September 2) and arrived at Suvarnabhumi at 10.35am the following day after a journey of about seven hours and 20 minutes. Bangkok was announced as Riyadh Air's 14th destination on sale. The route is operated with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The initial schedule is: * Flights from Riyadh depart every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. * Return flights from Bangkok operate every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. * Each aircraft can accommodate up to 290 passengers. * The route will provide an estimated 3,840 inbound seats a month during the initial phase. The non-stop service gives travellers another option for reaching Thailand without connecting through Doha, Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Saudi arrivals fall despite high spending. Thailand recorded 121,907 Saudi visitors so far in 2026, down 14.62% from 142,774 during the same period in 2025. TAT regards the Middle East as an important long-haul market because of its visitors' spending power. July through September is the region's summer and a peak period for outbound travel, Chiravadee said. Saudi travellers typically visit in large family groups, staying for an average of 10 to 12 days and spending about 110,000 baht per person per trip. Their principal interests include: * Shopping. * Beaches and coastal destinations. * Nature. * Thai food. * Medical and wellness tourism. Travel is also beginning to spread beyond Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya to Krabi, Phang Nga, Koh Samui and Chiang Mai. TAT believes Thailand can compete for this market through its climate, natural attractions, healthcare services and leisure facilities. TAT targets high-value travel segments. The tourism authority plans to use the additional flight capacity to reach more family, luxury, wellness and medical travellers from Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East. Its marketing priorities include: * Developing Muslim-friendly tourism products. * Expanding the availability of halal food. * Providing suitable facilities for Muslim visitors. * Promoting Thailand through digital platforms and online travel agencies. * Working with Saudi government agencies and private companies. TAT said the close relationship between Thailand and Saudi Arabia would support tourism marketing and collaboration between the two countries. Gala dinner marks new route. Riyadh Air held the "TAT x Riyadh Air - A New Era of Travel Gala Dinner 2026" at The Athenee Hotel, Bangkok, on Thursday evening to mark the route's launch and promote further tourism cooperation. HE Abdulrahman Abdulaziz Alsuhaibani, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Thailand, opened the event. Riyadh Air chief executive Tony Douglas and Chiravadee also welcomed guests. MOST VIEWED

Riyadh Air eyes second Indian city as Saudi carrier deepens its India expansion. Riyadh Air is preparing to expand its presence in India beyond Mumbai, with the Saudi carrier targeting a second Indian destination by the end of 2026 as it builds out its international network and strengthens connectivity between the two countries. The airline's plans come shortly after the launch of its first Indian route. Riyadh Air began daily services between Riyadh and Mumbai on August 4, marking its entry into one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets. A senior airline executive has now confirmed that a second Indian city is being considered for launch before the end of the year. The expansion reflects the growing importance of India within Saudi Arabia's aviation strategy. Strong business, tourism, employment and trade links between the two countries have created sustained demand for direct air connectivity, while Saudi Arabia's expanding tourism economy is generating new opportunities for international carriers. Riyadh Air's Mumbai service is operated with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, giving passengers access to the airline's long-haul product from the outset of its Indian operations. The daily service is also expected to support increased travel between western India and Saudi Arabia, particularly among business travellers and visitors travelling for tourism and religious purposes. The airline's India strategy comes as Riyadh Air rapidly expands its wider international network. Its official media hub lists recent launches and planned destinations across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, including Madrid, Málaga, Cairo, Dubai and Kuala Lumpur. The carrier also launched its first domestic route to Jeddah in June, establishing a broader network around its Riyadh hub. Fleet expansion is expected to underpin this growth. At the Farnborough Airshow in July, Riyadh Air announced orders for 34 additional widebody aircraft, comprising 28 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and six Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. The airline said the expansion supports its ambition to serve more than 100 destinations by 2030. The carrier's Boeing commitment includes the larger 787-10 variant, while its additional Airbus order brings its firm A350-1000 commitment to 31 aircraft. The scale of the fleet plan reflects Saudi Arabia's wider ambition to develop Riyadh into a major international aviation hub connecting Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. India represents a particularly important market within that strategy. The country has one of the world's largest aviation passenger bases and continues to see strong growth in international travel. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, is investing heavily in tourism infrastructure and airline capacity as part of its Vision 2030 economic diversification programme. Competition on India-Saudi Arabia routes is also increasing. Saudi low-cost carrier flyadeal recently announced plans to begin five weekly Riyadh-Mumbai services from October 3, adding more than 7,400 seats per month to the route. The additional capacity highlights the strength of passenger demand between the two markets. For Riyadh, the expansion has significance beyond passenger traffic. More international routes are expected to support the city's ambitions as a business and tourism centre while strengthening connections for multinational companies establishing regional operations in Saudi Arabia. The development is also part of a broader transformation of Saudi Arabia's aviation sector. The Kingdom has been investing in airports, airline capacity, tourism infrastructure and logistics as it seeks to position itself as a global travel and trade hub. Riyadh Air's rapid network development is therefore closely linked to the country's wider economic strategy. Increased connectivity can support tourism arrivals, international investment, business travel and the movement of skilled professionals, while providing new links between Saudi Arabia and major global markets. The airline's progress also marks a significant change in Riyadh's competitive position within the Gulf aviation landscape. With established carriers already operating extensive networks from Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, Riyadh Air is attempting to build a new hub centred on the Saudi capital. As the airline evaluates its next Indian destination, the decision could further reshape air connectivity between India and Saudi Arabia. A second city would expand Riyadh Air's reach into India's diverse regional passenger market while providing travellers with another direct gateway into the Kingdom. With its Mumbai service now operational, a rapidly expanding fleet and more international routes entering the network, Riyadh Air is moving into a critical phase of growth. Its planned second Indian destination could become another milestone in the airline's effort to establish Riyadh as a major global aviation gateway.