Saudi Arabia’s newly launched national carrier, Riyadh Air, is set to begin flight operations to Pakistan in August 2026, introducing direct services to Islamabad and Lahore.
The airline has opened reservations for both routes from July 30, 2026.
Flights to Islamabad will begin on August 14 with seven weekly services, while operations to Lahore will commence on August 18 with three weekly flights. Both routes will be operated using the airline’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
The launch marks Riyadh Air’s entry into the Pakistani market and is expected to strengthen air connectivity between the two countries, benefiting business travelers, tourists and the large Pakistani expatriate community in Saudi Arabia.
استعدادات أول رحلة لطائرتنا الجديدة إلى لندن اكتملت ✈️🇬🇧🪻#طيران_الرياض pic.twitter.com/HZHfGS8cuj
— Riyadh Air | طيران الرياض (@RiyadhAir) June 9, 2026
Riyadh Air was officially launched in June this year as Saudi Arabia’s second national carrier after Saudia.
The airline’s inaugural commercial flight, a London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner in its distinctive white and lavender livery, departed Riyadh in June, marking a key milestone in the Kingdom’s aviation expansion strategy.
The state-owned airline is a flagship project under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 program, aimed at diversifying the economy beyond oil and transforming Riyadh into a major global aviation hub capable of competing with leading regional transit centres, including Dubai.
