Pakistan welcomes Riyadh Air’s inaugural new Islamabad flight

THE NEWS: Riyadh Air launched its first operations in Pakistan, debuting a direct Riyadh‑Islamabad service on August 14, 2026 and announcing that Riyadh‑Lahore flights will start on August 18, 2026.

DETAILS:

• The inaugural Riyadh‑Islamabad flight arrived in Islamabad on August 14, 2026, as reported by APP.
• Minister of State and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Digital Media Fahd Haroon publicly congratulated Riyadh Air on the launch.
• The Lahore service, scheduled for August 18, 2026, will extend the airline’s Pakistani network just four days after the Islamabad debut.
• This launch marks Riyadh Air’s entry into the Pakistani market, expanding its Middle‑East network.

WHY IT MATTERS: The new routes give Riyadh Air a foothold in Pakistan’s growing travel market and provide passengers with a Saudi carrier option for direct travel between Saudi Arabia and two of Pakistan’s major cities.

FAQ

When did Riyadh Air begin its direct Riyadh‑Islamabad flights?
Riyadh Air began operating its direct Riyadh‑Islamabad service on August 14, 2026, when the airline’s inaugural flight from Riyadh arrived in Islamabad, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP). The launch marks the carrier’s first flights to Pakistan and signals a new market entry for the Saudi carrier.

Which Pakistani city will Riyadh Air add next after Islamabad, and when?
Riyadh Air plans to start flights to Lahore, with the Riyadh‑Lahore service scheduled to commence on August 18, 2026, expanding the airline’s Pakistani network four days after the Islamabad launch. This addition will give the carrier a presence in Pakistan’s second‑largest city.

Who congratulated Riyadh Air on its launch in Pakistan?
Fahd Haroon, Minister of State and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Digital Media, publicly congratulated Riyadh Air on the commencement of its operations in Pakistan, noting the airline’s inaugural flight arrival in Islamabad on August 14, 2026, and hailed it as a strategic step to strengthen Saudi‑Pakistani connectivity.

Read Original Article.