Akasa Air expands its presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; commences operations from Riyadh

Akasa Air, India’s fastest-growing airline, commenced operations from Riyadh, connecting it to Mumbai with daily direct flights. The inaugural flight on 15th June 2024 departed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai at 2220hrs IST and arrived at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh at 0015hrs AST. Riyadh is the second destination in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to be included in Akasa Air’s network and strengthens the airline’s presence in the region, providing reliable, affordable, and enhanced options for air travel on the route.

As a rapidly growing financial centre, Riyadh has been witnessing a consistent uptick in business and MICE travellers from around the globe. The dynamic city offers a blend of ultra-modern and medieval architecture and is also emerging as an attractive destination for leisure tourists and culture enthusiasts.

The maiden flight received a warm welcome at King Khalid International Airport where its arrival was graced by in the presence of the leadership teams of Akasa Air and King Khalid International Airport to commemorate the occasion.

Commenting on the destination launch, Neelu Khatri, Co-Founder and SVP International, Akasa Air, said: “We are pleased to commence operations from Riyadh, our third international destination on our rapidly growing international network. The city’s flourishing trade prospects and dynamic tourist attractions have made it an increasingly popular destination for a variety of Indian travellers.

“The Government of Saudi Arabia’s forward-looking strategy to enhance the nation’s global air connectivity will further bolster air travel demand to and from the region in the coming years.

“We are thankful to King Khalid International Airport for their support in establishing this connection,” she added.

Praveen Iyer, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, further shared: “We are delighted to strengthen our presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the commencement of services to Riyadh. The city holds immense potential as a tourist destination, and the launch of daily direct flights, connecting the city with Mumbai will enhance passenger and cargo capacity on the route, catering to the growing demand for trade and tourism.

“Akasa Air has emerged as India’s most reliable airline in a short time. As we rapidly grow our global presence, we remain committed to taking the dependable and affordable Akasa experience to the world.”

Belson Coutinho, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing and Experience Officer, Akasa Air, added: “We are excited to extend the signature Akasa experience to Riyadh, our third international destination. At Akasa Air, service excellence is in our DNA, and we have progressively introduced multiple customer-friendly offerings to ensure a warm and efficient flying experience. We are confident that travellers on the route will appreciate the distinguished and diverse culinary options with our onboard meal service Café Akasa, and the fresh in-cabin experience that offers enhanced comfort and ample legroom, backed by the signature service delivered by our crew on board and on the ground.

“Offerings like Skyscore by Akasa and QuietFlights will further elevate the inflight experience of our passengers. Moreover, travellers who wish to explore Riyadh can choose to plan their travel with Akasa Holidays which offers customisable and all-inclusive holiday packages at affordable prices. Our category-redefining offerings have set new standards for air travel in India. As we expand our global footprint, we look forward to hosting an increasing number of travellers from across the world,” he added.

Akasa Air forayed into international skies with the launch of operations to Doha, the capital of Qatar, on 28th March 2024. In May 2024, the airline announced operations from Jeddah, and the launch of flights to Riyadh will provide further impetus to the Saudi Arabian government’s aim of enhancing global connectivity, tripling air passenger footfall and handling 5 million tons of freight by 2030.

Akasa Air has also been granted traffic rights for three other international destinations namely Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and Medina, and will continue to rapidly expand its global presence in the coming months.

The airline has introduced multiple quality products and differentiated services to ensure an inclusive, warm, and comfortable flying experience. Its brand-new fleet provides ample legroom and enhanced comfort and comes with USB ports in a majority of aircraft, allowing passengers to charge their devices on the go. Café Akasa, the airline’s onboard meal service, offers an assortment of healthy and delectable meals, including festive menus and industry-first options such as Kombucha, to offer customers an indulgent gourmet experience in the skies. Travelers who wish to explore Riyadh can choose to plan their travel with Akasa Holidays which offers customisable and all-inclusive holiday packages at affordable prices. Skyscore by Akasa provides live scores of all major sporting events onboard, and the airline’s QuietFlights experience offers a restful inflight environment on early morning and late-night flights. In addition, in an endeavour to make travel inclusive, Akasa Air has introduced its safety instruction card and onboard menu card in Braille for persons with visual impairment.

Akasa Air’s consistent on-time leadership, operational efficiencies and extremely positive customer feedback have made it a preferred carrier in India, and the airline has served over 10 million passengers since its launch in August 2022. Akasa Air currently connects with 25 cities, namely Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi, Guwahati, Agartala, Pune, Lucknow, Goa, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Port Blair, Ayodhya, Gwalior, Srinagar, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Doha (Qatar), Jeddah and Riyadh (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia).

Flight schedule:

*Schedule might differ on certain dates due to operational reasons

About Akasa Air:

Akasa Air is India’s most dependable airline, offering warm and efficient customer service, reliable operations, and affordable fares - all in the Akasa Way. Akasa’s youthful personality, employee-centric philosophy, tech-led approach, and culture of service make this commitment a reality for all Indians.

The carrier launched its first commercial flight on 07 August 2022 to support the growing demand across India and commenced international operations on 28 March 2024, offering non-stop flights from Mumbai to Doha. This milestone makes it the first Indian airline to fly overseas within a record period of just 19 months. Internationally, Akasa Air operates flights to Doha and Riyadh and has opened for the sale of tickets to Jeddah (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). Additionally, Akasa Air has also been granted traffic rights for Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, and Medina (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). Since its inception, Akasa Air has served over 10 million passengers and connects 25 cities.

With a clear focus on sustained, long-term growth, Akasa Air has placed a firm order of 226 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes, powered by CFM fuel-efficient, LEAP-1B engines. It currently operates 24 737 MAX aircraft which delivers superior efficiency in reducing fuel use and carbon emissions. The aircraft also powers a quieter cabin with 40 per cent less noise fulfilling the airline's promise of being an environmentally progressive company with the youngest and greenest fleet in the Indian skies.