Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's newest carrier, will start daily nonstop flights between Mumbai and Riyadh from August 4, 2026 — its first-ever route to India. Bookings for flight RX697 opened on July 6, 2026, giving Indian travellers a fresh, premium option into the kingdom just as Riyadh pushes to become a bigger Gulf transit and tourism hub.
What happened
Riyadh Air, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and launched in March 2023, confirmed Mumbai as its first Indian destination. The daily service uses a Boeing 787-9 in a four-class layout — Business Elite, Business, Premium Economy and Economy. Flight RX697 departs King Khalid International Airport (RUH) at 14:05 and lands at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) at 20:35 local time.
The airline currently flies daily to London, Manchester, Jeddah, Dubai, Cairo and Madrid, and Mumbai extends that network to nine destinations. Reports also flagged Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai as likely follow-on Indian cities, though Riyadh Air hasn't published schedules or fares for those yet.
Why it matters
This is a new full-service widebody competitor on the India-Saudi corridor, which has so far been dominated by Saudia, Air India Express and low-cost Gulf carriers. More capacity and a new premium product usually means fare competition — good news if you're pricing an umrah trip, a Riyadh business stopover, or using Riyadh as a jumping-off point for the wider Gulf.
Riyadh Air's entry is also part of Saudi Arabia's broader aviation push — the kingdom wants to hit 330 million air passengers and pull in 150 million tourists a year by 2030, and Tony Douglas, the airline's CEO, is explicit that India is central to that math.
What this means for your trip
If you're planning a Riyadh trip around August 2026 onward, it's worth comparing Riyadh Air's Boeing 787-9 business and premium economy fares against existing Saudia and Air India Express options before booking — new-route launch fares are often introductory and don't last. Business Elite and the lie-flat cabins may also make this the more comfortable overnight option for a Gulf stopover en route to Europe.
"India has emerged as one of the fastest-growing aviation markets globally. We are delighted to offer passengers a new premium option with enhanced global connectivity." — Tony Douglas, CEO, Riyadh Air
The bottom line
Riyadh Air's Mumbai launch on August 4 is the first concrete step in what the airline says will eventually be five Indian cities. Watch for Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai announcements over the rest of 2026 if you're planning further ahead.
