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As I first wrote about back in October 2025, Delta Air Lines is officially heading to Saudi Arabia. It’s now celebrating the upcoming launch of its first flights to Saudi Arabia with a limited-time SkyMiles award sale to give travelers the opportunity to book round-trip flights to Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH) for as little as 30,000 SkyMiles plus $77 in taxes and fees.
The promotion coincides with the airline’s new nonstop service between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH), which begins on October 23rd. The route marks Delta’s inaugural service to Saudi Arabia and will become the first nonstop connection between the United States and Riyadh operated by a US airline.
The discounted awards are valid for travel between October 23rd and April 15th to give customers nearly six months of availability beyond the route’s inaugural flight. Travelers can choose between two Economy Class fare options. Basic Economy awards begin at 30,000 SkyMiles round-trip, while Main Cabin awards start at 47,500 SkyMiles (with both requiring approximately $77 in taxes and fees).
Members who hold eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express credit cards can lower the mileage cost even further through the airline’s TakeOff 15 benefit, which automatically reduces the number of SkyMiles required by 15%. That brings the lowest-priced round-trip itinerary down to 25,500 SkyMiles (plus applicable taxes and fees).
The sale is also available from several cities across the United States via Delta’s Atlanta hub, including:
- Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
- Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
- Miami International Airport (MIA)
- New York John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
- Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
The new flights will be operated by Delta’s flagship Airbus A350-900. These offer 32 Delta One®, 48 Premium Select, 36 Delta Comfort, and 190 Main Cabin seats. The promotional pricing applies only to Economy Class award tickets. Premium cabin awards are available but require substantially more SkyMiles. Roundtrip tickets in Delta One® are showing up for almost one million miles. More details can be found here.
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).
Anthony’s Take: The new service strengthens Delta’s international network while providing travelers with a nonstop link to Saudi Arabia’s capital (a destination that continues to grow as both a global business center and an emerging tourism market).
(Image Credits: Delta Air Lines and Riyadh Air.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
