Riyadh Air Cleared to Fly to the United States

Riyadh Air, the Saudi airline wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund and planned as the Kingdom's second national carrier, has received clearance to begin operating flights between Saudi Arabia and the United States. The U.S. Department of Transportation granted the approval on 16 June 2026, covering a foreign air carrier permit and exemption authority for scheduled and charter services.

The approval took effect immediately, meaning the Riyadh-based airline is now legally cleared to start US operations as soon as it is operationally ready and has scheduled routes in place. The exemption authority is valid for up to two years, or until the foreign air carrier permit becomes effective, whichever comes first.

Despite the green light, Riyadh Air has not yet announced any specific US destinations or start dates for commercial passenger flights. Industry expectations place the realistic launch of US services in 2027, tied to the delivery of incoming widebody aircraft. No ticket prices, fees, or schedules for Riyadh–US routes have been published, and booking for these services is not yet open.

Why it matters

For residents and travellers in the Kingdom, the approval is a significant milestone in Riyadh Air's international expansion. Its currently announced network from Riyadh includes London Heathrow, Dubai, Madrid, Cairo, Manchester, and Jeddah, with no active US routes yet in operation.

The US route approval is handled entirely through the U.S. Department of Transportation and does not involve any Saudi e-government platforms such as أبشر or مقيم. No Saudi-specific changes have been announced to visa, travel, or government service fees linked to the approval; standard exit and entry, visa, and civil aviation fee regimes continue to apply through the usual channels.

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