Riyadh Air flights to Pakistan begin next month — the airline opened bookings on July 30, 2026, for two new routes connecting Riyadh directly to Islamabad and Lahore. This is Riyadh Air’s first entry into the Pakistani market, and it’s a significant one: it’s Saudi Arabia’s newest national carrier, backed by the country’s sovereign wealth fund, entering one of the busiest air corridors between the two countries.
Here’s everything confirmed so far, what it means for travelers, and how to book once flights go on sale.
Riyadh Air flight schedule to Pakistan
Riyadh to Islamabad
- Launch date: August 14, 2026
- Frequency: 7 flights per week (daily service)
- Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
Riyadh to Lahore
- Launch date: August 18, 2026
- Frequency: 3 flights per week
- Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
Both routes use Riyadh Air’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, a long-range wide-body aircraft — notable because most existing Riyadh-Pakistan routes are flown on narrow-body aircraft. A wide-body jet on a route this short usually means more seats, more cabin comfort, and often a stronger push into business and premium economy travel than budget-focused competitors offer.
Who is Riyadh Air?
Riyadh Air is Saudi Arabia’s second national carrier, alongside the long-established Saudia. It’s wholly owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and was formally announced in March 2023 as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy to turn Riyadh into a major global aviation hub. The airline flew its first commercial flight in late 2025 and expanded to long-haul routes like Riyadh–London in mid-2026.
Riyadh Air has ordered dozens of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners as its primary long-range aircraft, with plans to serve more than 100 destinations worldwide by 2030. It’s positioning itself as a premium, digitally-led full-service carrier — competing directly with Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad rather than budget carriers.
Is Riyadh Air the same as Saudia?
No. This is one of the most common points of confusion, and worth answering clearly: Riyadh Air and Saudia are two separate airlines, both owned by the Saudi government (Saudia by the state directly, Riyadh Air by the Public Investment Fund). They operate independently, with separate booking systems, separate loyalty programs, and separate fleets. Riyadh Air is the newer, Riyadh-hub-focused carrier; Saudia remains the older, larger airline with a broader route network including Jeddah and Madinah.
Why this is good news for Pakistani travelers
Direct competition on price and schedule. Riyadh-Islamabad and Riyadh-Lahore are currently served by PIA, Air Sial, Saudia, Flynas, and Fly Jinnah, with round-trip economy fares typically ranging from roughly $320 to $370 depending on the airline and season. A new entrant on a wide-body aircraft usually means more seat capacity on the route, which can put downward pressure on fares as airlines compete for the same passengers — though Riyadh Air’s own fares for these specific routes weren’t independently published at the time of writing.
No confirmed Umrah/Jeddah routing yet. Riyadh Air’s Pakistan launch is Riyadh-only — it does not currently serve Jeddah or Madinah, the two cities most relevant for Umrah travel. If you’re booking specifically for Umrah, existing Saudia, PIA, and Flynas routes into Jeddah remain the more direct option for now. This may change as Riyadh Air’s network grows, but nothing has been announced for those routes yet.
Karachi not yet announced. Given Karachi is Pakistan’s largest city and a major existing Gulf-Pakistan travel corridor, a Riyadh-Karachi route is a reasonable expectation as Riyadh Air’s Pakistan network matures — but as of this article, only Islamabad and Lahore have been confirmed.
How to book a Riyadh Air flight from Pakistan
Bookings for both routes opened on July 30, 2026, ahead of the August launch dates. You have two options:
- Book directly through Riyadh Air’s own website or app.
- Book through Al Hamdan Travel and Holidays — we already have Riyadh Air booking access set up. Just send us your travel dates on WhatsApp and we’ll confirm your fare and complete the booking in one message, no need to navigate a new airline’s booking system yourself.
Book directly through WhatsApp — just send us your travel dates and destination, and we’ll confirm your fare right away.
