While the launch of this route has been rumored for the last few weeks, Delta Air Lines has officially announced that it will launch flights to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2026.
Delta Launching Flights to Saudi Arabia
Back in July 2024 Delta and Riyadh Air, the new, full-service, Saudi Arabian carrier, announced the signature of a Strategic Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding. The stated goal of this agreement was to open up a variety of benefits to customers traveling between North America, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond. Now, the next phase of that partnership has materialized with a new flight to the Saudi Arabian capital.
Beginning October 2026, Delta will launch nonstop service between its global superhub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh. The route will operate 3x weekly using four cabin Airbus A350-900 aircraft.
Delta’s A350-900s are outfitted with Delta One Business Class, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort, and Main Cabin seats. The Atlanta based carrier has not announced the specific configuration that will be used for these flights.
Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, said this about the launch of service to Riyadh:
“Launching service to Riyadh marks a key step in Delta’s global growth as we start our second century of flight. Our new flights will connect customers to this dynamic, fast-growing region while delivering the care, comfort and reliability they expect. It reflects our bold vision to create meaningful opportunities and experiences in every corner of the world in the years ahead.”
The flight between Atlanta and Riyadh will be one of the longest in the carrier’s route network clocking in at 7,283 miles. The schedule for the flights and the days of operation have not yet been released.
Why Riyadh?
The launch of service to Riyadh marks Delta’s first destination in the middle east. Unlike American (which has a partnership with Qatar Airways via the OneWorld alliance) and United (which has partnered with Emirates), Delta has historically been weak in the market.
Aside from a weak alliance member in Saudia, Delta doesn’t have much connectivity in the middle east at all. With Riyadh Air’s launch, and partnerships being developed with Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic, Delta likely sees an opportunity to provide additional connectivity in the region as Riyadh Air builds out its route network.
In addition to Riyadh Air’s expanding route network, there is another major factor at play here; subsidies. Saudi Arabia is spending big to attract airlines to Riyadh, which it argues does not have the appropriate amount of service given its size.
Saudi Arabia’s Air Connectivity Program (ACP) is intended to help facilitate that service and “will compensate airlines to cover their losses from flying direct flights to these very important hubs.” Essentially, Delta is able to launch this route with little to no financial risk.
Summary
Delta Air Lines is launching its first route to the middle east with service to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The route comes after the Atlanta based carrier entered into a partnership with new Saudi Arabian start-up carrier Riyadh Air.
Given the subsidies available to carriers flying to Riyadh, it’s likely Delta will make money on this route regardless of the load factors. As Riyadh Air builds up its network, I’d expect to see onward connecting opportunities for passengers via Riyadh.
(Images courtesy Delta Air Lines)