Riyadh Air Gets US Approval as Its Global Airline Plan Gets Real

Riyadh Air has received approval from the US Department of Transportation to operate flights between Saudi Arabia and the United States.

The approval was reported on June 16, 2026, after the airline applied for a foreign air carrier permit in May.

This does not mean Riyadh Air will start US flights immediately. It means the airline now has an important legal approval needed before it can launch routes to the country. For a new long-haul airline, this is a major step because the US is one of the world’s most valuable aviation markets.

Riyadh Air was launched in 2023 and is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The airline is part of the country’s plan to make Riyadh a larger global business, tourism, and aviation hub.

Why Riyadh Air wants the US market

The US could become an important part of Riyadh Air’s future network. It can bring business travelers, premium passengers, tourists, and people visiting family and friends. It can also help Riyadh compete with other major Gulf hubs, including Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi.

Riyadh Air has not announced its first US destination yet. However, the airline’s CEO, Tony Douglas, has previously said the carrier wants a presence on the Eastern Seaboard.

The move also fits Saudi Arabia’s national aviation strategy. The country wants to reach 330M passengers a year and connect to more than 250 destinations by 2030. Riyadh Air plans to serve more than 100 destinations by the same year.

Delta partnership could help the rollout

Riyadh Air already has a strategic partnership with Delta Air Lines. Under the agreement, Delta is expected to be Riyadh Air’s key partner in North America, while Riyadh Air will support Delta in Riyadh and beyond.

Riyadh Air does not yet have its own US network. A Delta partnership could help passengers connect from one US gateway to many other cities. Riyadh Air says the future partnership could give travelers access to more than 300 cities across North America.

Delta also plans to launch nonstop flights between Atlanta and Riyadh in October 2026. Atlanta is Delta’s largest hub, so the route could become an important connection point between Saudi Arabia and the US.

Aircraft deliveries will shape the timeline

Riyadh Air has started its first London service with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and plans to grow quickly. The airline expects to have eight aircraft soon and aims to serve 22 destinations by March 2027.

Its larger fleet plan includes Boeing 787s, Airbus A321neos, and Airbus A350s. The wide-body aircraft are important for long-haul routes such as the US and Europe. The smaller A321neo aircraft can support shorter routes across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

The main challenge is timing. Aircraft delivery delays and supply chain issues have already slowed the airline’s launch plans. So even with US approval, Riyadh Air’s expansion will depend on how quickly it receives enough aircraft and prepares its operations.

Riyadh Air builds the sales network behind its global launch

Riyadh Air’s US approval follows other steps the airline has taken before its wider commercial rollout. Riyadh Air signed a global distribution agreement with Amadeus to make its future flight content available through one of the world’s major travel technology platforms.

The agreement also supports the airline’s plan to serve more than 100 destinations by 2030 and shows that Riyadh Air is building not only routes, but also the sales and distribution network needed to compete globally.

Photo by Eddie Zhang on Unsplash