Riyadh Air launches direct Bangkok flights

Riyadh Air inaugurates direct Bangkok service on September 3, signifying a strategic move to attract more affluent Middle Eastern visitors to Thailand. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) hailed the inaugural flight at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, deeming the new route vital for fostering long-haul tourism growth in the country.

Officials, including Deputy Minister of Transport Phattrapong Phattraprasit and TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing Chiravadee Khunsub, attended the arrival, accompanied by Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Thailand, Abdulrahman Abdulaziz Alsuhaibani. The inaugural flight departed Riyadh at 10.15pm on September 2, touching down in Bangkok at 10.35am on the following day.

The route, which marks Riyadh Air's 14th overall service, will commence with three weekly flights starting Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from Riyadh, and Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from Bangkok, with plans to increase to seven weekly flights in October. With Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft carrying 290 passengers each, the service will inject approximately 3,840 additional inbound seats per month to Thailand.

During the maiden flight, Riyadh Air hosted a gala dinner at The Athenee Hotel in Bangkok, attended by key tourism industry figures. Saudi Arabia's strong inclination towards Thailand's natural beauty, wellness retreats, family vacations, and reliable tourist infrastructure makes it a lucrative market for the Southeast Asian nation.

Saudi travelers typically stay 10 to 12 days and spend around 110,000 baht (US$3,100) per trip, with significant demand for shopping, beaches, Thai cuisine, medical treatments, and wellness services. Family travel constitutes a substantial share of this market, with tourists exploring destinations beyond Bangkok, Phuket, and Pattaya such as Krabi, Phang Nga, Koh Samui, and Chiang Mai.

While Thailand recorded 121,907 arrivals from Saudi Arabia in 2026, a 14.62% decline from 142,774 in the same period the previous year, the TAT aims to reverse this trend through improved air links and targeted marketing initiatives.