Riyadh Air hikes Manila-Riyadh flights to daily starting October

Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s second national flag carrier, will increase its Manila-Riyadh service from four flights a week to daily operations starting this October.

Riyadh Air starting operating the route last September 9.

Osamah Alnuaiser, Riyadh Air Senior Vice President for Marketing and Corporate Communications, said, “The next concrete milestone is our planned increase from four weekly flights to daily service between Manila and Riyadh on 19 October 2026. That will give guests more flexibility, for their travel plans and more variety of connectivity options through our network.”

Last September 21, the Department of Tourism said Riyadh Air’s direct service is expected to further strengthen air connectivity as well as economic and tourism ties between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia.

DOT said the new service will use 290-seat Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.

Other carriers – Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air and Saudi Arabian Airlines – are also flying direct between Saudi Arabia and the Philippines.

Riyadh Air wants to distinguish its service on its approach to passenger experience. “We want Filipino travelers to see Riyadh Air as a new generation of airline, one that combines the ease of a digital platform, a premium travel experience and the warmth of Saudi hospitality,” said Alnuaiser.

He said being built “from the ground up” gives the airline an opportunity to integrate these elements across the passenger journey, including its digital experience, onboard service and Boeing Dreamliner cabins.

“Our ambition is to make travel feel intuitive, comfortable and personal across every touchpoint such as a smoother digital journey, from booking to check-in, a thoughtfully designed onboard experience on our Boeing Dreamliners and attentive service that makes a meaningful difference in every cabin,” he said.

Alnuaiser said the airline’s Saudi identity is reflected in its hospitality and passenger experience.

“What brings the experience to life is Hafawa, the Saudi tradition of generosity, warmth and attention to detail,” he said.

He added the airline wants its Saudi identity and hospitality to feel relevant and familiar. “We see those two ambitions as complementary. Riyadh Air can introduce Saudi hospitality to Filipino travelers through values they already recognize: warmth, respect, family and the importance of making every guest feel at home,” Alnuaiser said.

The airline deploys the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners on the route, configured to four cabin classes: Business Elite, Business, Premium Economy and Economy.

The Manila route is part of Riyadh Air’s network expansion. The service is its seventh destination in Asia and 13^th inaugural flight since its commercial launch in June 2026.

Riyadh Air targets opening 30 routes by end of 2026 and more than 100 destinations worldwide by 2030.

“For Filipino travelers, immediate benefit is nonstop access to Riyadh. As our network grows and suitable onward connections become available, we expect to offer more opportunities to travel through Riyadh to destinations across the Middle East, Europe and Africa,” Alnuaiser said.

According to DOT, the Philippines recorded 19,011 arrivals from Saudi Arabia, as of September 2026.

“Our focus is on earning guests’ confidence through the experience we deliver. The inaugural flight is a beginning. Our ambition is to build a lasting relationship with the Philippines,” said Alnuaiser.