Malaysia's strong Saudi ties give Riyadh Air a flying start

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's appeal to Saudi travellers, along with significant pilgrimage and business traffic between the two nations, has put Kuala Lumpur in a favorable position as Saudi Arabia strengthens its aviation and tourism ties with Southeast Asia. According to Riyadh Air's chief commercial officer Vincent Coste, Kuala Lumpur is an attractive destination due to the high volume of point-to-point flights and the influx of Saudi travellers for leisure, pilgrimage (Hajj and Umrah), and business purposes.

The partnership is anticipated to grow as Saudi Arabia pursues Vision 2030, which aims to bolster its tourism industry beyond religious and business travel. On July 30, Riyadh Air initiated three weekly flights between Riyadh and Kuala Lumpur using Boeing B787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Early demand has surpassed expectations, with a substantial portion of the interest coming from Saudi travellers.

Coste expressed his delight at the strong response, noting that the success confirms the popularity of Malaysia among Saudis. Looking ahead, Riyadh Air aims to transform Kuala Lumpur into a key transit hub by gradually adding more destinations to its network, which is currently focused on serving passengers with origins or destinations in Riyadh.

The airline is also working with the Saudi Tourism Authority to create appealing offers for connecting travellers. Despite competition from established Middle Eastern carriers, Riyadh Air leverages its domestic market in Riyadh, a city of nearly nine million people, to secure a substantial base of passengers. The airline plans to expand its network to over 100 destinations by 2030, beginning with services to Bangkok, Manila, and other Asian cities.