[Aviation Insight] According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China’s (CAAC) second-quarter announcement on international route operating permits, Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s flag carrier, has received approval to launch services between Riyadh and Beijing and Riyadh and Shanghai.
Under the approval, Riyadh Air has been authorized to operate three weekly round-trip flights between Riyadh and Beijing and four weekly round-trip flights between Riyadh and Shanghai. The launch dates and flight schedules have not yet been announced, and the airline must complete the remaining regulatory procedures before commencing operations.
Founded in March 2023, Riyadh Air is wholly owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). In early June 2026, the airline took delivery of its first three Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. To date, Riyadh Air has placed orders for 72 Boeing 787-9s, 50 Airbus A350-1000s, and 60 Airbus A321neos.
On July 1, 2026, Riyadh Air launched its first international scheduled service, connecting Riyadh with London Heathrow Airport. The airline has already launched or announced services to destinations including London, Cairo, Dubai, Jeddah, Málaga, Madrid, Manchester, Kuala Lumpur, and Mumbai, and plans to expand its network to more than 100 destinations worldwide by 2030.
In addition, Riyadh Air has received approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to operate air services between Saudi Arabia and the United States, completing another key regulatory milestone ahead of its planned U.S. operations. The airline has yet to announce the specific destinations or launch dates for its U.S. services.
