KARACHI: Saudi Arabia’s new national airline, Riyadh Air, is expanding its operations in Pakistan with the launch of new services connecting Islamabad and Lahore with the Saudi capital, Riyadh, from this month.
The airline has announced that daily flights between Islamabad and Riyadh will begin on August 14, while services on the Lahore-Riyadh route are scheduled to commence on August 18.
According to the airline, ticket sales are already open for both routes, allowing passengers to book flights ahead of the launch.
Riyadh Air will operate seven flights a week between Islamabad and Riyadh, providing a daily connection between the two capitals. The Lahore-Riyadh route will initially operate three times a week.
The new services are part of the carrier’s efforts to expand its international network and strengthen air links between Saudi Arabia and key destinations in Pakistan.
The airline said the routes would be operated using its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, equipped with its latest cabin interiors and onboard facilities.
The aircraft will offer passengers a choice of four cabin classes — Business Elite, Business, Premium Economy and Economy — catering to different travel preferences.
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Riyadh Air said the new connections have been designed to provide convenient onward travel to destinations across Europe and the Middle East, potentially benefiting both business and leisure travellers from Pakistan.
The launch of the Islamabad and Lahore services will further strengthen air connectivity between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, where significant numbers of Pakistani residents, workers and business travellers regularly travel between the two countries.
The expansion also marks another step in Riyadh Air’s efforts to build its international route network following the launch of the Saudi carrier’s operations.
