RIYADH: Riyadh Air commenced its first direct flight to Madrid on Friday, marking an expansion of its European network aimed at enhancing economic and tourism relations between Saudi Arabia and Spain, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Flight RX0531 arrived at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, celebrated with a ceremony attended by Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas, Atlético de Madrid CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, and senior executives from both organizations. Atlético de Madrid serves as a sports partner of Riyadh Air.
The launch coincided with the signing of a strategic memorandum of understanding between Riyadh Air and Spain’s Air Europa, pending regulatory approval. The agreement outlines plans for interline partnerships, codeshare agreements, and coordinated loyalty programs across Air Europa’s network in Spain, Southern Europe, and Latin America.
This Madrid route follows the July 14 initiation of seasonal services to Málaga, which will operate until September 8. Both routes were developed in collaboration with the Saudi Air Connectivity Program to support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives.
The SPA highlighted that the new link will cater to approximately 250 Spanish companies active in Saudi Arabia. It also reinforces Riyadh Air’s engagement in Spanish sports, including its role as principal sponsor of Atlético de Madrid’s men’s and women’s teams and naming rights holder for the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium.
“Today’s launch establishes a vital bridge connecting Saudi Arabia and Spain like never before,” Douglas stated. He emphasized that the new routes and Air Europa collaboration represent a pivotal step toward linking Riyadh to premier global destinations.
The Madrid service is part of Riyadh Air’s initial network expansion, following last month’s ticket sales for flights to Jeddah, Dubai, Cairo, London, and Manchester. Operating a growing fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, the Public Investment Fund-owned airline plans to receive 10 aircraft by the end of 2026. By 2030, it aims to serve over 100 international destinations, contributing $20 billion to Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy and creating 200,000 jobs.