{
  "id": 1072549,
  "title": "Riyadh Air begins Pakistan operations with daily Islamabad flights",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/riyadh-air-begins-pakistan-operations-with-daily-islamabad-flights",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-15T15:37:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/business/aviation/riyadh-air-begins-pakistan-operations-with-daily-islamabad-flights-1.500642167"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Riyadh Air has launched daily flights between Riyadh and Islamabad, expanding the Saudi carrier's international reach and creating a new direct link between the two capitals. The inaugural flight, RX-660, carried 69 passengers and landed at Islamabad International Airport on Friday evening, with the return journey accommodating 272 passengers the following day. A ceremony marking the launch took place at Islamabad International Airport, attended by Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Saeed Al Malki, and Riyadh Air's Chief Commercial Officer, Vincent Coste, along with Pakistani aviation and government officials. The airline will operate the route twice daily, with flights departing Riyadh at 1:45pm on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and leaving Islamabad at 8:10pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Riyadh Air will soon extend its Pakistan network with the introduction of flights to Lahore, operating three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Both routes will be serviced by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The launch of these services comes as air travel between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is particularly important due to the large Pakistani community in the kingdom and the demand for travel from families, business travelers, and religious pilgrims. More than two million Pakistanis reside in Saudi Arabia, working in various sectors, including healthcare, technology, finance, and construction. Riyadh Air's new services aim to strengthen direct travel between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan while connecting Pakistani passengers to the airline's expanding international network. Saudi Arabia's Ambassador emphasized that the launch would further solidify longstanding relations and air connectivity between the two nations. The Pakistan Airports Authority hailed the start of operations as a significant milestone in bilateral aviation ties, stating that the additional flights would facilitate passenger movement and enhance cooperation in the aviation sector. Riyadh Air, wholly owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, is expanding its network as part of plans to connect the Saudi capital with over 100 destinations worldwide by the end of the decade. The launch of these flights also coincided with Pakistan's 79th Independence Day, adding a symbolic touch to the airline's first arrival in the country.",
  "summary": "Islamabad: Riyadh Air has begun operations in Pakistan with the launch of a daily service between Riyadh and Islamabad, marking the Saudi carrier’s latest international expansion and adding a new direct link between the two capitals. The inaugural flight, RX-660, arrived at Islamabad International Airport from Riyadh on Friday evening carrying 69 passengers, according to the Pakistan Airports…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}