Primary Keywords Start: Saudi Arabia And Singapore Sign Direct Riyadh To Singapore Air Route Agreement

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Singapore are preparing for a new direct air link between Riyadh and Singapore, planned to start in June 2026, with four weekly flights using A350-900 aircraft, under a cooperation agreement between the Saudi Air Connectivity Program and Singapore Airlines.

The agreement is signed on the sidelines of the Changi Aviation Summit 2026 and the Singapore Airshow, held from 1 to 3 February, and is witnessed by Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser and Singapore Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow, highlighting growing aviation ties between the two countries.

The new service will depart from Singapore Changi International Airport to King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, using aircraft configured with 303 seats, giving a planned annual capacity of 126,048 seats and supporting the movement of passengers travelling for tourism, trade, and wider business purposes between Saudi Arabia and Southeast Asia.

Officials state that this cooperation adds to existing routes between Saudi Arabia and Southeast Asia and increases total air connectivity capacity, supporting the Kingdom’s objective under the National Transport and Logistics Strategy to build stronger international links and improve competitiveness in global air transport markets, with Riyadh targeted as a major logistics and travel hub.

President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation and Chairman of the ACP Executive Committee Abdulaziz Al-Duailej describes the agreement as an important enhancement for the international route network and a reflection of the partnership depth between the two civil aviation sectors, aligning with national programmes designed to improve global connectivity for Saudi Arabia.

Al-Duailej explains the wider role of the new link, stating: "The new route between Riyadh and Singapore represents a vital bridge linking the Kingdom with Southeast Asian markets, facilitating the movement of trade and tourism and offering diverse travel options that meet international standards." These remarks emphasise both commercial and tourism benefits expected from the flights.

Air connectivity between Saudi Arabia and Singapore Airlines expanding tourism flows

Chief Executive Officer of the Air Connectivity Program Majid Khan views the cooperation agreement with Singapore Airlines as a strategic move that confirms a shared commitment to improve air connectivity, open additional travel opportunities from Southeast Asia to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and back broader goals for expanding destination networks and supporting tourism growth.

Khan highlights that the partnership is intended to increase travel choices for passengers originating in Singapore and other global markets, while also helping national tourism plans by drawing more visitors to Saudi Arabia, and states that the Air Connectivity Program expects lasting positive outcomes in line with long-term objectives endorsed by the Kingdom’s authorities.

From Singapore Airlines’ side, Chief Commercial Officer Goh Choon Phong underlines Riyadh’s economic environment and regional significance, saying: "Our return to Riyadh comes amid its thriving business environment and ambitious development, making it one of the most dynamic cities in the Middle East. Beyond being a new destination, this service will enable us to work with our partners to offer additional travel options for our customers across the region."

The signing ceremony, attended by Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore Han Kok Juan alongside Saudi and Singaporean aviation leaders, forms part of broader engagement between both countries’ transport sectors, with the agreement recorded by SPA at 17:22 local time, 14:22 GMT, under reference number 0042.

With inputs from SPA