Riyadh Air started direct service between King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Kuala Lumpur International Airport on July 30, 2026, operating three weekly return flights [1, 2, 3]. This route is Riyadh Air's first gateway into Southeast Asia and a key part of its regional expansion strategy [1, 2, 3].
Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, called the route a bridge between Saudi Arabia and ASEAN countries. He said the flights support Saudi Vision 2030 and aim to boost travel for business, tourism, and education. "By facilitating seamless travel for business, tourism, and education, we are actively supporting Saudi Vision 2030 while delivering an elevated, digitally led travel experience for our guests," Douglas said [1].
The inaugural flights were celebrated at ceremonies held simultaneously in Riyadh and Kuala Lumpur, attended by Saudi ambassador Osamah Dakhel Al-Ahmadi, Transport Ministry officials from both countries, Malaysia Airports leadership, and Riyadh Air executives [1, 2, 3].
Malaysia Airports managing director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani noted Riyadh Air is the ninth West Asian carrier serving Kuala Lumpur International Airport. He said the airline strengthens connectivity with an important region for tourism, trade, and investment. "For Malaysia Airports, this is about continuing to build a network that gives guests greater choice while strengthening KLIA’s role as a gateway between Southeast Asia and the rest of the world," Ghani said [1].
Riyadh Air started operations in June 2026 on routes to Jeddah, Dubai, and Cairo, with a plan to reach 100 destinations by 2030, according to chief commercial officer Vincent Coste [4]. Coste said Riyadh, with its 8.5 million residents, gives the airline strong point-to-point demand. "Riyadh is a capital city of 8.5 million people. So this is our key differentiator compared to the big hubs in the region," he said. "We have very strong point-to-point traffic and this is the purpose of Riyadh Air" [4].
Demand for the Riyadh-Kuala Lumpur route has been strong, driven by Saudi travelers visiting Malaysia for leisure and Malaysians traveling for religious, business, and tourism reasons [4]. Coste said the airline plans to increase frequency from three weekly flights to daily "very rapidly" [4].
Riyadh Air also expects increasing transit traffic through Riyadh to Europe, Africa, and other destinations starting in 2027. The airline is developing partnerships with international carriers, including potential cooperation with Malaysia Airlines [4].
