Riyadh Air has announced that Cairo International Airport (CAI) will become its third international destination, joining Dubai International Airport (DXB) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR).
Daily flights from Riyadh King Khalid International Airport (RUH) to CAI will begin “soon,” presumably with the beginning of the summer 2026 season, with the route being part of the airline’s mission to enhance Saudi Arabia’s connectivity.
“The Egyptian capital has been strategically chosen […] as a significant flight path due to immense demand. Flights between Riyadh and Cairo are among the busiest in the world with a recorded 2.7 m passengers last year.”
Riyadh Air added that after it concludes its operational readiness phase, which includes flying from RUH to LHR with a Boeing 787-9, registered as HZ-RXX and leased from Oman Air, it anticipates the delivery of its first factory-fresh aircraft “in the coming weeks.”
Following the delivery of its first 787-9, registered as HZ-RXAA, which had already operated four test flights, it will launch commercial operations with departures to CAI, DXB, and LHR.
Riyadh Air plans to operate over 100 destinations by 2030, with the airline having ordered 60 Airbus A321neo, up to 50 A350-1000, and up to 72 787-9 aircraft.
Airport Coordination Limited (ACL) records indicate that for the upcoming summer 2026 season, Riyadh Air obtained 5,522 slots. British Airways gave it slots for daily departures from/to LHR, and it got hold of 420 slots as a new entrant at DXB for the summer season.
Riyadh Air also received slots at Manchester Airport (MAN), per an analysis of ACL’s initial slot coordination reports.
Rytis Beresnevicius
