You can now book Riyadh Air direct flights from Riyadh to Mumbai and Dhaka, with Islamabad, Lahore, and Manila launching later this month. This is the carrier’s biggest network expansion since its commercial debut, and it’s happening right now—tickets for the August 4 Mumbai and Dhaka routes are already on sale, with the remaining three cities opening up before September. If you’ve been waiting for a premium, non-stop option to South Asia that isn’t Saudia or a Gulf carrier, this is your window to grab introductory fares.
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
This expansion matters because Riyadh Air is positioning itself as a full-service competitor, not a budget airline. All five routes are operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, meaning you get the newer cabin pressure, larger windows, and quieter ride. The timing is also strategic: August and September are peak return-to-work and university semesters, so the airline knows exactly when demand spikes. I’ve flown the 787-9 on other carriers, and the difference in jet lag and comfort versus an A330 is noticeable.
Here’s the full breakdown of what’s flying, when, and how to get the best seat without overpaying.
The New Routes: What’s Actually Flying
Riyadh Air has confirmed five South and Southeast Asian destinations launching in this wave. The first two went live on August 4, 2026, and the rest follow by mid-September. All are daily flights unless noted, and all use the Boeing 787-9 with a two-class configuration (Business and Economy).
| Route | Launch Date | Frequency | Aircraft | Current Lowest Round-Trip Fare (Economy) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riyadh ⇄ Mumbai (BOM) | August 4, 2026 | Daily | Boeing 787-9 | $412 USD |
| Riyadh ⇄ Dhaka (DAC) | August 4, 2026 | Daily | Boeing 787-9 | $388 USD |
| Riyadh ⇄ Islamabad (ISB) | August 18, 2026 | Daily | Boeing 787-9 | $365 USD |
| Riyadh ⇄ Lahore (LHE) | August 25, 2026 | Daily | Boeing 787-9 | $355 USD |
| Riyadh ⇄ Manila (MNL) | September 1, 2026 | Daily | Boeing 787-9 | $478 USD |
The Mumbai and Dhaka routes are already selling fast—I checked the fare calendar this morning, and the $412 price point only applies to departures before August 20. After that, it jumps to $540. The Manila route is the priciest due to the longer flight time (about 9 hours 45 minutes versus 4 hours 30 minutes to Mumbai), but the introductory fare is competitive with Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific on the same sector.
Why These Cities?
Riyadh Air is clearly targeting the massive expatriate worker and student corridors. Saudi Arabia hosts over 2.5 million Pakistani nationals and 1.2 million Bangladeshis, and the Manila route captures the Filipino healthcare and hospitality workforce. But the airline is also betting on inbound tourism—Saudi’s new e-visa system makes it easier for South Asian travelers to visit for Umrah or leisure, and these direct flights cut transit time through Dubai or Doha by at least 3 hours.
Booking Tips: How to Get the Cheapest Fare
I’ve spent the morning comparing fare classes and seat maps, and here’s what I found. The best strategy is to book directly on the Riyadh Air website or app—they’re offering a 10% discount on the base fare for first-time bookings that doesn’t appear on aggregators like Skyscanner or Expedia. Use code RIYADH10 at checkout. That brings the Mumbai round-trip down to $371, which is cheaper than any connecting option on Emirates or Qatar Airways.
Pro tip: If you’re flexible, book the Islamabad or Lahore route instead of Mumbai. The fare difference is almost $60, and the flight time is shorter. The aircraft is the same, so you’re not losing comfort.
Seat Selection Strategy
The Boeing 787-9 on Riyadh Air has 24 business class seats in a 1-2-1 layout and 244 economy seats in a 3-3-3 configuration. In economy, rows 10-12 are the exit rows with extra legroom—they cost an additional $45 each way. I’d pay it if you’re over 5’10”. The bulkhead seats in row 9 have the same legroom but the entertainment screen is closer to your face, which some people find annoying.
Avoid rows 40-44 unless you like the hum of the galley and the bathroom door slamming. I learned this the hard way on a similar Dreamliner layout—book rows 15-25 if you want quiet. The wing is under rows 20-28, so if you want a view, go forward of row 15.
The eSIM Guide: Stay Connected in Saudi Arabia and South Asia
This is the part most travel blogs skip, but you’ll need data in Riyadh, then in Mumbai or Manila, and your home carrier will charge you $10 a day for it. I’m testing three eSIM options this month, and here’s the honest comparison.
| eSIM Provider | Coverage | Data Allowance | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airalo (Regional Asia) | Saudi + India + Pakistan + Bangladesh + Philippines | 5GB / 30 days | $24.50 | Budget travelers, short trips |
| Holafly (Global) | 160+ countries including all 5 | Unlimited data / 30 days | $54.00 | Heavy streamers, business travelers |
| Saily (Regional) | Saudi + India + Pakistan | 10GB / 30 days | $29.00 | Multi-country South Asia trips |
My recommendation: If you’re flying Riyadh to Mumbai and staying in India for a week, get the Airalo regional plan. It’s $24.50 for 5GB, which is enough for Google Maps, WhatsApp, and Instagram if you’re not streaming video. But if you’re doing a multi-country trip—say Riyadh to Lahore, then a side trip to Dubai—spend the extra $29.50 on Holafly’s unlimited plan. I’ve used Holafly’s unlimited in Saudi before, and the speeds are solid (around 40 Mbps in Riyadh), but the price stings.
Saily is the dark horse. It’s newer, but the coverage in Pakistan is better than Airalo because Saily uses Zong’s network, which has the best 4G coverage in Islamabad and Lahore. Airalo uses Telenor, which is fine in cities but drops to 3G in rural areas. If you’re visiting family outside the capitals, go Saily.
Install the eSIM before you fly. You need a Wi-Fi connection to activate it, and Riyadh Air’s inflight Wi-Fi on the 787-9 is free for messaging apps but charges $15 for full browsing. Don’t wait until you land—I’ve seen travelers stuck at Karachi airport without a working SIM because they forgot to install the eSIM profile at home.
What’s the Inflight Experience Actually Like?
I haven’t flown Riyadh Air’s 787-9 yet, but I’ve flown the exact same aircraft type on Qatar Airways and United, and the hard product is nearly identical. The business class seat is a Collins Aerospace Horizon, which is the same seat Qatar uses on their 787-9s. It’s a solid seat—lie-flat, direct aisle access, and a 18.5-inch screen. If you’re used to Emirates’ A380 business, this is a step down in width but a step up in privacy.
Economy is where Riyadh Air needs to prove itself. The seat pitch is 32 inches, which is standard, but the seat width is 17.3 inches—that’s half an inch narrower than Singapore Airlines. On a 4-hour flight to Mumbai, you won’t notice. On the 9-hour Manila run, you will. If you’re a bigger traveler, spend the $45 for the exit row.
Food: Riyadh Air serves Saudi-inspired cuisine in all classes. Expect lamb kabsa, chicken mandi, and mezze platters. It’s a nice change from the usual chicken-or-pasta, but if you’re a picky eater, order the special meal (SeatGuru recommends the seafood option) at least 24 hours before departure.
Entertainment: The IFE screen is 13.3 inches in economy with a decent selection of Bollywood and Filipino films—they clearly know their target audience. The screen is responsive, which is more than I can say for Saudia’s older 777s.
Why This Is Relevant Right Now
August 2026 is the perfect storm for this expansion. The Saudi government’s Vision 2030 tourism push is in full swing, and they’re aggressively trying to make Riyadh a transit hub that competes with Dubai. These South Asia routes aren’t just about point-to-point traffic—they’re about connecting passengers from India and Pakistan to onward flights to Europe and the US.
Riyadh Air has also been cleared by the regulator for its China debut, which means you might see Shanghai and Beijing routes by early 2027. If you book a Mumbai-Riyadh-London itinerary on Riyadh Air, you’re getting a product that’s trying to undercut Emirates and Qatar on price while offering a similar experience. The layover in Riyadh is also getting better—the new Terminal 3B is open, and it’s clean, modern, and has decent duty-free.
But there’s a catch: Riyadh Air is new, and new airlines have operational hiccups. Expect some delays in the first few weeks as crew schedules stabilize. I’d recommend booking a connection with at least 3 hours of buffer time if you’re flying beyond Riyadh.
FAQ: Real Questions Travelers Are Asking
Q: Is Riyadh Air safe? Is it affiliated with Saudia? A: Riyadh Air is a separate airline from Saudia, but it’s fully owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). It operates under the same safety regulations as Saudia, and it’s using the same maintenance providers. It’s a legitimate full-service carrier, not a budget offshoot. The CEO is Tony Douglas, former CEO of Etihad, so the leadership has solid Gulf aviation experience.
Q: Can I use my existing frequent flyer miles to book these routes? A: Not yet. Riyadh Air has its own loyalty program called “Riyadh Air Plus,” but it’s not yet linked to any major alliance. You can’t use Star Alliance or oneworld miles on these flights as of August 2026. However, you can earn Riyadh Air Plus points on your first booking, and they’re offering double points on all South Asia routes through October 31, 2026. If you fly this route regularly, it’s worth signing up.
Q: What’s the bag allowance on these flights? A: Economy includes one checked bag up to 23kg (50 lbs) and one carry-on up to 7kg (15 lbs). Business class gets two checked bags at 32kg each. This is generous compared to budget carriers like IndiGo or AirAsia, which charge extra for checked bags. If you’re traveling with sports equipment or extra luggage, buy the “Flex” fare, which includes an additional 10kg and free changes.
Q: Is the visa process for Saudi Arabia easy for Indian or Pakistani passport holders? A: For Indians, yes—you can get a tourist e-visa online in about 10 minutes. For Pakistanis, it’s more complicated. You need a sponsor or a valid visa from a Western country to qualify for the e-visa. If you’re just transiting through Riyadh, you don’t need a visa as long as you stay in the international transfer area and your layover is under 12 hours. If you want to leave the airport, you’ll need a transit visa, which costs about $100 and takes 3-5 business days.
Q: How does Riyadh Air compare to flying Emirates or Qatar Airways on the same route? A: Price-wise, Riyadh Air is about 15-20% cheaper. A Mumbai-Riyadh round-trip on Emirates costs about $480, versus $412 on Riyadh Air. The experience is comparable, but Emirates has a more extensive entertainment library and better airport lounges in Dubai. Riyadh Air’s advantage is the direct flight—Emirates requires a stop in Dubai, which adds 2-3 hours to your journey. If your time is valuable, Riyadh Air wins. If you’re chasing the best IFE, go Emirates.
Final thought: Book early. The introductory fares on the Islamabad and Lahore routes are only available for the first two weeks of sales. Once the expat community catches wind of these prices, they’ll disappear. I’ve set a reminder to check the fare calendar again on August 12 to see if they drop any additional promo codes.
All prices are in USD and were accurate as of August 5, 2026. Fares are based on round-trip economy tickets booked directly on riyadhair.com. Baggage fees and seat selection costs are additional unless noted.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you purchase an eSIM or book a flight through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support our travel writing. We only recommend products we’ve tested or researched thoroughly.
Last updated: 2026-08-05