Riyadh Air celebrates first flight from Manchester to Saudi capital
A new link between Manchester and the Saudi capital of Riyadh launched this morning – with Saudi Arabia’s new digital-led airline Riyadh Air making the North’s hub airport just its fourth destination in Europe.
The service will not only open up connections to Saudi Arabia for travellers from the North but will also give them access via onward connections to Riyadh Air’s network of destinations across Africa and Asia.
The airline, which is owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), began its operations on June 10th this year with its maiden flight to London and has ambitious plans to become one of the world’s largest operators, with a goal to serve 100 destinations across six continents by 2030.
In addition to improving outbound links to Saudi Arabia and beyond, Riyadh Air’s new service is expected to provide a boost to inbound tourism in the North and enhance economic ties between the two nations.
Hundreds of thousands of people visit the UK from Saudi Arabia for business or leisure each year, and the North’s world-famous football teams are among the biggest draws. The region’s universities are highly popular with Saudi students, too.
Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director of Manchester Airport, said:
“We’re proud to connect people from across the North with destinations across the planet, so having a new route to a major global city like Riyadh is a big moment for us.
“What makes this even more special is that an ambitious airline like Riyadh Air has selected Manchester as one of its first European destinations – showing the appeal of Manchester and the North as a destination, but also indicating the strength of demand for long-haul travel from the North.
“That is something we now have more capacity to meet than ever before, thanks to our decade-long, £1.5bn transformation of Terminal 2. Whether they’re travelling to Manchester from or via Riyadh, travelling to Saudi Arabia, or connecting onwards to other parts of Asia, Africa or Australasia, passengers travelling with Riyadh Air from Manchester can be assured of a world-class experience – both at the airport, and with the airline.”
Tony Douglas, CEO at Riyadh Air said:
“It’s incredibly exciting to be launching our inaugural flight to Manchester, our second destination in the UK and 14th worldwide. Manchester is a key gateway from where our guests can fly to cities in the Middle East and Asia in addition to being a popular cultural destination for visitors from across our growing network. We look forward to welcoming guests to fly on our modern, premium aircraft and experiencing genuine Saudi hospitality, known locally as Hafawa.”
The Manchester – Riyadh service will operate three times weekly, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, using a 290-seat Boeing 787‑9, featuring four distinct cabin classes.
It will be Manchester’s second service to Saudi Arabia, with Saudia also operating flights to the city of Jeddah on the country’s Red Sea coast.