JEDDAH- Saudia (SV), previously known as Saudi Arabian Airlines, is the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia. The airline has grown to become a key player not just in the Middle East but also globally. Saudia is headquartered in Jeddah.
The airline operates with two main hubs in King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) and King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh; the airline connects the Kingdom to all corners of the globe.
Saudia now operates to over 122 destinations, this includes 95 international cities across 40 countries, and it’s not slowing down. The airline operates 159 Narrow-body and Wide-body aircraft that are currently in service. Saudia is preparing for a massive network expansion aimed at serving 250 destinations by 2030.
Photo: By Mark Harkin – HZ-AK40 Boeing 777 Saudia, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=60482761Saudia Busiest International Routes
From regional power routes to long-haul connections, here’s a closer look at Saudia’s Top 10 busiest international routes in 2025, ranked by one-way weekly seat capacity.
1. Jeddah – Cairo
The Jeddah-Cairo route is Saudia’s busiest international corridor and for good reason. Connecting two of the Arab world’s most influential cities, Jeddah and Cairo, this high-traffic route operates 9 times daily.
The airline deploys a mix of widebody A330-300s and narrowbody A321s, offering passengers a range of comfort levels.
With 63 weekly flights, this sector sees 18,892 weekly one-way seats. This sector is vital not only for tourism and business but also for the significant number of Egyptian expats living and working in Saudi Arabia. It’s a core part of Saudia’s regional network and is crucial during Hajj and Umrah seasons.
2. Riyadh – Dubai
Serving two of the most dynamic cities in the Gulf, the Riyadh–Dubai route is one of the region’s most competitive. Saudia operates 8 daily flights, split between narrowbody A320/A321s and larger A330s.
With 11,809 weekly one-way seats, this route caters to a broad segment. Saudia serves leisure travelers to business executives in this sector. The frequency and flexibility make it one of the most reliable choices between Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Photo: Kevin Hackert | Flickr3. Dubai – Jeddah
This is the second Dubai-bound route in Saudia’s top ten. This shows how important the UAE is to Saudia’s network. The Dubai–Jeddah route sees 7 flights daily, primarily using A321s with some rotations on widebody aircraft like the 777 or A330.
Saudia offers 9,780 weekly one-way seats in this sector. The Jeddah – Dubai route continues to be a major sector for religious, business, and leisure traffic, acting as a critical air bridge between the two regional hubs.
4. Riyadh – London Heathrow
Saudia’s strongest long-haul route from Riyadh is to none other than London Heathrow. The airline operates 22 weekly flights in this sector. All of the flights are operated using the flagship Boeing 777-300ER. This route handles a heavy load of premium passengers.
With 8,734 weekly one-way seats, it serves as a crucial link between the UK and Saudi Arabia, supporting not just business and diplomatic ties but also educational and tourism traffic. London remains one of the most served long-haul destinations from Saudi Arabia by Saudia.
5. Riyadh – Cairo
Photo: By Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia – Saudia, HZ-AQ27, Airbus A330-343, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=78143956Just like Jeddah, Riyadh also maintains strong air connectivity with Cairo. Saudia flies 4 times daily on this route, and all flights are operated using Airbus A330-300s.
This route accounts for 8,428 weekly one-way seats, emphasizing the demand for travel between the two capitals. This route has travelers for business, education, or visiting family.
6. Dhaka – Jeddah
A vital long-haul connection in South Asia, the Dhaka–Jeddah route caters to the huge number of Bangladeshi expatriates in Saudi Arabia, as well as pilgrims heading for Umrah or Hajj. The route sees 20 weekly flights, split evenly between the 777-300ER and the 777-200ER.
With 7,930 weekly one-way seats, it remains a high-density corridor and one of Saudia’s most essential labor market routes in Asia.
7. Jeddah – Jakarta
Photo: Birmingham AirportIndonesia being the world’s largest Muslim-majority country makes Jakarta – Jeddah a naturally strong religious and cultural corridor. Saudia operates 2 daily flights between these two cities, exclusively using the long-range 777-300ER.
Saudia offers 5,502 weekly one-way seats in this sector. The indonesian routes are particularly busy during Hajj and Ramadan periods but also remain solid year-round due to steady expat and religious travel.
8. London Heathrow – Jeddah
On the westbound side, the London–Jeddah route sees 16 flights per week by saudia. All of the 16 weekly flights are flown using the modern Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. This aircraft offers a quieter cabin and improved fuel efficiency, ideal for the 6+ hour journey.
Saudia offers 4,768 weekly one-way seats between Jeddah and London. This route complements Saudia’s service from Riyadh to London, creating a robust network to one of Europe’s most important destinations.
9. Jeddah – Casablanca
Photo: By Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia – Saudia, HZ-AR11, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73594090The connection between Saudi Arabia and Morocco is strong. The Jeddah–Casablanca route is one of the top 10 busiest routes for Saudia. Saudia flies twice daily in this sector, using the long-haul capable 787-9.
Saudia operates a total of 4,172 weekly one-way seats to Casablanca. This North African route supports both tourism and business traffic and reflects Saudia’s commitment to strengthening ties with fellow Arab nations.
10. Kuala Lumpur – Jeddah
Closing out the list is the Kuala Lumpur–Jeddah route. Saudia serves this route with 13 weekly flights. All of the 133 weekly flights are operated by the fuel-efficient Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. This Southeast Asian connection handles both Umrah traffic and growing leisure travel between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.
Offering 3,874 weekly one-way seats, this route is also popular with group tours and religious travelers, particularly during peak pilgrimage periods.
Bottom Line
Photo: Alec Wilson | FlickrThese top ten international routes highlight the diversity of Saudia’s network. From short-haul, high-frequency regional routes to long-haul intercontinental connections, the airline has positioned itself as a crucial connector across Saudi Arabia — and beyond.
To support its expanding network, the airline has also placed orders for 128 additional aircraft, aiming to modernize its fleet and increase capacity. Saudia operates a fleet of 159 aircraft, including various models of Airbus and Boeing jets.
Saudia’s rapid international expansion is a clear reflection of its commitment to Vision 2030. One of Saudia’s most ambitious goals under this vision is to expand its network to 250 destinations by the year 2030. It represents a massive leap in connectivity, linking Saudi cities like Jeddah and Riyadh with the rest of the world more seamlessly than ever before.
The airline is strategically building routes to key global cities, adding capacity in high-demand sectors.
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