Riyadh Cargo Launches As Riyadh Air Expands Global Freight Network

Riyadh Air has launched "Riyadh Cargo", entering the international air freight market and supporting Saudi Arabia’s logistics goals. The cargo unit uses belly-hold space on passenger aircraft and is designed to help the Kingdom build a major aviation and logistics hub that supports jobs, trade flows, and wider economic growth.

The airline plans a total fleet of 182 aircraft on order and aims to serve more than 100 destinations by 2030. Riyadh Cargo is built as a scalable business centred on Riyadh, using more than 120 widebody aircraft on order to move goods efficiently and reliably between global markets.

The launch of Riyadh Cargo is part of a phased operational rollout that began with experimental flights under Riyadh Air’s "Pathway to Perfect" strategy. These initial services operated between King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Heathrow Airport in London, allowing the airline to test systems, customer processes, and cargo handling performance in live conditions.

On the Riyadh–London route, Riyadh Cargo has already carried substantial volumes of varied shipments. These include textiles, fresh flowers, fish, tea, and coffee, highlighting the service’s ability to handle perishable and high-value cargo. The operation has also demonstrated that time-sensitive freight can be transported with high reliability along this key international corridor.

Commenting on the new business unit, Riyadh Air’s global head of cargo, Pravin Singh, said the operation was set up with clear priorities. Singh highlighted operational discipline, reliability, and room to expand over time as core goals for the cargo strategy, reflecting the airline’s plans for a long-term cargo ecosystem alongside passenger growth.

"Launching within a live environment allows us to test, learn, and continuously refine how we operate, while delivering real value to our customers from the get-go," he said. Singh described the launch of Riyadh Cargo as "a foundational step" in building a cargo ecosystem that grows in parallel with the airline’s expanding network and supports the Kingdom’s broader logistics ambitions.

Digital technology is central to Riyadh Cargo’s model. The airline has introduced advanced systems to manage and control air waybills from a central platform, improving visibility of operational data. This setup is intended to support faster decision-making, keep service levels consistent, and maintain efficiency as aircraft movements increase and the route network becomes more complex.

As part of this digital approach, Riyadh Cargo partnered with CHAMPS to implement the "Cargospot neo" solution for freight management and terminal operations. The platform offers wider oversight of day-to-day activities, better access to real-time data, and quicker operational responses, helping sustain reliable services as shipment volumes and international connections grow.

The airline has also invested in unit load devices in collaboration with Unilode. These ULDs feature modern tracking tools that allow real-time monitoring of shipments and help maintain accurate inventory records. This technology is intended to secure stable and sustainable cargo flows, even when the global network faces irregular operational or logistical disruptions.

On the ground, Riyadh Cargo works with SATS SA to operate cargo handling and freight terminals at the Kingdom’s three major airports: King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. Dedicated handling zones and updated facilities at these hubs aim to provide seamless links between air operations and wider logistics networks.

Riyadh Cargo is positioned as an enabler of wider economic plans, backing Saudi Arabia’s target of becoming a leading global aviation and logistics hub. With Riyadh Air expected to contribute about US$20 billion to non-oil GDP and support more than 200,000 jobs worldwide, the cargo business is set to play a central part in the airline’s broader growth plans.

With inputs from SPA