Riyadh Air lands in India, opens Mumbai route with cargo focus
The daily Boeing 787-9 service adds new belly cargo capacity between Saudi Arabia and India as the airline continues its rapid international expansion.
Riyadh Air marked its India debut with the arrival of its inaugural flight from Riyadh to Mumbai on August 4. Flight RXI697, operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (HZ-RXAA), landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) at 9:16 pm IST after departing Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport at 2:56 pm local time, according to Flightradar24.
The Mumbai service becomes Riyadh Air's first destination in India and expands the Saudi carrier's rapidly growing international network. The daily service is operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, adding both passenger connectivity and belly cargo capacity between Saudi Arabia and India.
The India launch comes as Riyadh Air accelerates its international expansion following the arrival of its first three Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Since commencing commercial operations, the airline has introduced services to London Heathrow, Jeddah, Dubai, Cairo, Málaga, Madrid, Manchester, Kuala Lumpur and Dhaka, with Mumbai now joining the growing network.
The Mumbai launch also follows Riyadh Air's announcement at the Farnborough International Airshow to add 34 more wide-body aircraft through additional Boeing and Airbus A350 orders, supporting its plan to serve more than 100 destinations by 2030 and further expand its belly cargo capacity.
The expansion has continued beyond India. Riyadh Air has also announced new services to Islamabad, Lahore and Manila, further strengthening its footprint across South Asia and Southeast Asia as it works towards its long-term goal of serving more than 100 destinations by 2030.
Riyadh Cargo has also strengthened its network through partnerships. Last week, it signed an interline agreement with Saudia Cargo to expand cargo connectivity, extend its network reach and provide freight forwarders and shippers with broader access to international markets through seamless cargo transfers across Saudi Arabia. The partnership is expected to enhance routing flexibility and support the airline's growing international footprint
From a cargo perspective, the Mumbai launch is significant as Riyadh Cargo continues to build its network around the belly-hold capacity of Riyadh Air's expanding wide-body fleet. The airline has consistently positioned cargo as a core pillar of its commercial strategy, focusing on leveraging its Boeing 787 operations to support global trade while developing Riyadh as a strategic logistics hub under Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. Earlier this year, Riyadh Cargo also appointed General Sales and Service Agent (GSSA) partners in India, Egypt and the UAE to support its international cargo expansion.
With the inaugural Mumbai flight, Riyadh Air has added another strategic market to its growing network, while reinforcing its dual focus on passenger connectivity and belly cargo capacity as it continues its global expansion.
Watch Pravin Singh, Global Head of Cargo at Riyadh Air, share insights on the airline’s cargo strategy, ambitions, and its roadmap toward 2030.