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As I first wrote about in July 2024, Delta Air Lines is officially heading to Saudi Arabia. The carrier’s CEO, Ed Bastian, has confirmed plans to launch nonstop service between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Riyadh King Khalid International Airport (RUH). This will mark Delta’s entry into the Saudi market and deepening its strategic partnership with Riyadh Air, the Kingdom’s new national carrier.
The broad partnership between Delta and Riyadh Air includes plans for codesharing, loyalty program cooperation, and network coordination. At the time, Delta had hinted at launching flights to Saudi Arabia but had not specified which route it would operate. The newly confirmed service will be the first concrete step in that collaboration.
The route will be operated by Delta’s Airbus A350, which offers 32 Delta One®, 48 Premium Select, 36 Delta Comfort, and 190 Main Cabin seats. A fall 2026 launch seems likely, though exact dates and schedules have not yet been released. The upcoming route reflects Delta’s growing interest in the Middle East market, which is an area where the airline has historically lacked a strong presence compared to its rivals. Through its partnership with Riyadh Air, Delta gains access to an expanding network across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.
For Saudi Arabia, the partnership is a cornerstone of its national aviation strategy and Vision 2030 economic diversification plan. Riyadh Air, backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, aims to transform the capital city into a global aviation hub (much like Dubai for Emirates or Doha for Qatar Airways).
By linking its Atlanta mega-hub with Riyadh, Delta positions itself to feed passengers from across North America into the Saudi capital, where Riyadh Air’s network can provide onward connectivity to dozens of regional destinations. This new route will mark Delta’s first scheduled service to Saudi Arabia and comes as the airline also plans to resume flights between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport (TLV).
Travelers can expect to see the route open for booking in the coming months (pending regulatory approvals). The addition underscores Delta’s ongoing global expansion strategy, which combines selective international growth with strong alliance partnerships.
Anthony’s Take: It’s funny to watch Delta cozy up with Riyadh Air after years of fighting off the expansion of Middle East carriers in the United States.
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