Riyadh Air’s India Flights Are Coming in 2026: What Travellers Need to Know

Last updated: Jun 8, 2026

Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier, is set to start flights to India in summer 2026, with five major cities reported as its first Indian destinations: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai.

The routes are not yet on sale. Riyadh Air has not published its India schedule, fares or exact launch date, so for now this is a plan to watch rather than a flight you can book.

What is confirmed: Riyadh Air signed a codeshare and interline agreement with Air India on 4 June 2026, and the airline has already opened sales on its first commercial route to London from 1 July 2026.

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Which Indian cities Riyadh Air is targeting

Five cities have been reported as Riyadh Air’s launch destinations in India: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai.

All would be served non-stop from the airline’s hub at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, according to trade reporting on the airline’s expansion plans.

The same trade reports suggest the India routes will be flown with narrowbody Airbus A321 aircraft, suited to the roughly 3.5 to 5-hour flight times between Riyadh and India.

What the Air India codeshare means for your trip

The Air India deal is the most concrete near-term benefit for Indian travellers. It lets you book Riyadh Air and Air India flights on a single ticket, with connections through their hubs in Delhi, Mumbai and Riyadh.

For passengers, a single booking usually means smoother transfers and protection if a delay causes you to miss your connecting flight. The agreement is still subject to regulatory approval in both countries.

The two airlines also plan to explore wider cooperation, according to Gulf News:

Codeshare and interline: Book both carriers on one ticket with through-checked baggage.
Loyalty tie-up: Possible reciprocal benefits between Air India’s programme and Riyadh Air’s Sfeer.
Onward connections: A future path from India to London Heathrow and other points via Riyadh.

Until the codeshare goes live, you can already fly between India and Riyadh on existing carriers, and reach Saudi Arabia on budget airline flyadeal, which recently launched its first India route to Hyderabad.

When you can book and what to do now

India flights are not bookable yet, and Riyadh Air says route sales open closer to launch. The airline’s first commercial route, Riyadh to London Heathrow, is already on sale and starts on 1 July 2026.

That London launch is a useful signal of timing, since India routes are expected to follow during the same summer 2026 season. Here is how to stay ready:

Check the official site: Routes and fares will appear at riyadhair.com and the Riyadh Air app first.
Join Sfeer: Riyadh Air says early loyalty members get priority access to new-route bookings.
Compare before you commit: Track fares on existing India–Saudi routes using the Wego flight tracker.
Plan connections: Riyadh Air is building toward more than 100 destinations by 2030, so a Riyadh stopover may open onward routes to Europe and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I book Riyadh Air flights to India now?

No. As of June 2026 the India routes are not on sale. Riyadh Air says route bookings open closer to the summer 2026 launch, so check riyadhair.com for updates.

Which Indian cities will Riyadh Air fly to?

Trade reports name Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai as the launch cities. Riyadh Air has not officially confirmed the full list, though slot data shows Mumbai among its planned summer 2026 destinations.

What is the Air India codeshare and how does it help me?

It lets you book Riyadh Air and Air India on one ticket with connections via Delhi, Mumbai and Riyadh. It is still subject to regulatory approval and is expected to go live in the second half of 2026.

Does Riyadh Air fly to Jeddah for Umrah?

Riyadh Air’s hub is Riyadh, and Jeddah appears in its wider network. For Umrah you would likely connect via Riyadh, then take a domestic flight or the high-speed train to Makkah and Madinah.