Starting in November 2026, Saudi Arabia’s national airline, Saudia, is set to introduce direct flights between Riyadh and Tokyo. This new route will include three weekly flights departing from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The initiative is a collaborative effort with the Air Connectivity Program and the Saudi Tourism Authority, aiming to enhance the link between the two nations.
This strategic move is poised to bolster tourism, trade, and business exchanges between Saudi Arabia and Japan, while also improving international accessibility to the Kingdom. It aligns with the broader objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, the National Aviation Strategy, and the National Tourism Strategy. These frameworks collectively aim to establish Saudi Arabia as a prominent global center for tourism and logistics.
Alongside the launch of the new route, the Saudi Tourism Authority is actively engaging with Japanese partners to promote travel packages, seeking to attract more tourists from Japan to explore the Kingdom. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enrich cross-cultural interactions and economic ties between the two countries.
Saudia’s introduction of the Riyadh-Tokyo route is also strategically timed to facilitate travel in anticipation of the AFC Asian Cup 2027, which Saudi Arabia is preparing to host. The airline’s expansion efforts are evident as it currently services over 100 destinations worldwide and is in the process of augmenting its fleet with 112 new aircraft.
