Saudia Boosts International Flights to US and China in 2026

Saudi Air Connectivity Program, in collaboration with Saudia, has announced increases in seat capacity across several international routes during 2026, part of a wider push to strengthen the Kingdom's air connectivity and support its tourism and passenger-growth goals.

On the New York (JFK) to Jeddah (JED) route, three additional weekly flights will be added in 2026, bringing the total to seven weekly flights and lifting annual capacity to more than 211,000 seats in both directions.

The Guangzhou (CAN) to Jeddah (JED) route gains one extra weekly flight, reaching four weekly flights and an annual capacity of more than 124,000 seats in both directions. The Beijing Daxing (PKX) to Riyadh (RUH) route also adds one weekly flight, for a total of three weekly flights and an annual capacity exceeding 93,000 seats in both directions.

Why it matters

The changes focus on priority markets such as China and the United States, aiming to give travellers more options while supporting national targets to raise the number of international visitors and overall passenger capacity. The broader work of the Air Connectivity Program has included attracting new airlines, opening new routes and adding millions of seats, with a goal of connecting several hundred international destinations directly to Saudi airports.

For residents and visitors, the added frequencies mean greater flexibility when planning trips between Saudi Arabia and these key destinations. Ticket prices are set dynamically by the airline and vary by season, demand, booking channel and fare class, so travellers are advised to check schedules and fares directly when booking.

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