RIYADH- Saudi Arabia’s newest national carrier, Riyadh Air (RX), is preparing to enter the competitive Indian aviation market with flights to five major cities planned for summer 2026. The airline has targeted Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai as its initial Indian destinations.
This marks an ambitious expansion into one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets. The existing bilateral framework may need renegotiation to accommodate a new entrant, particularly one planning to serve five major Indian cities simultaneously.
Photo: Riyadh AirRiyadh Air Plans India Flights
Riyadh Air’s choice of destinations shows they understand the Indian market dynamics well. Delhi and Mumbai are obvious selections as India’s national and commercial capitals.
Plans to fly to cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai demonstrate broader thinking beyond just the traditional metros.
Bengaluru makes perfect sense given its massive technology workforce, many of whom have business connections in the Middle East.
Hyderabad has emerged as another major IT hub, while Chennai serves as the gateway to Tamil Nadu with significant industrial ties. This mix covers both traditional business centers and India’s thriving southern economic zones.
Starting international operations in India involves securing traffic rights, airport slots at busy Indian airports, and coordination with aviation authorities.
Ground handling, catering, and passenger services must be established across five different cities, requiring significant investment and local partnerships.
Photo: Riyadh AirBig Market Opportunity for Riyadh Air
The India-Saudi Arabia corridor serves multiple passenger segments that create consistent demand. Religious tourism represents a major component, with thousands of Indians traveling for Umrah and Hajj pilgrimages throughout the year.
Business travel in sectors like IT services, construction, and oil and gas provides another steady stream of passengers.
The Indian expatriate community in Saudi Arabia, numbering in the millions, creates year-round demand for travel between the two countries. These travelers typically prefer direct flights when available rather than connecting through other Middle Eastern hubs like Dubai or Doha.
Current competition includes Saudi Arabian Airlines with direct services, while Indian carriers like IndiGo and Air India have been expanding their Middle East operations. Chennai and Bengaluru are currently unserved from Riyadh.
Photo: Tobias GudatOperational Challenges and Aircraft Planning
Launching five Indian destinations simultaneously is ambitious. Airlines always start with one or two routes to establish operations before expanding. However, Riyadh Air might be trying to create immediate market presence rather than allowing competitors time to react to gradual expansion.
The 2026 summer timeline could be tied to aircraft delivery schedules, as the airline may be waiting for A321-200 aircraft deliveries to begin these services. The A321-200, with its extended range and capacity, would be ideal for the India routes. It will offer the right balance of passenger capacity and operational efficiency for the 3.5- to 5-hour flights from Riyadh to Indian cities.
Flight timing will be crucial, as Indian travelers prefer schedules that maximize destination time while accommodating business requirements.
Riyadh Air will face several challenges entering this market, securing adequate bilateral air services agreement (BASA) rights likely being the primary hurdle.
Limited bilateral traffic rights between India and Saudi Arabia could restrict the airline’s ability to operate the desired frequencies or capacity on these routes.
Photo: Riyadh AirBottom Line
The airline’s success will depend largely on offering competitive pricing while maintaining the service standards Gulf carriers are known for. Indian passengers are well-known for being quick to switch carriers for better value or service.
Operational reliability will be crucial, as the Indian market doesn’t forgive service failures easily. If successful, these five routes could become the foundation for broader South Asian expansion, potentially including more Indian cities or other regional countries like Thailand and Bangladesh.
With comprehensive planning time available, Riyadh Air has the opportunity to enter the Indian market thoughtfully, but it’ll be competing against well-established carriers in a price-sensitive environment that rewards consistency and value.
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