RIYADH: Riyadh Air launched its inaugural nonstop flight to Madrid on Friday, expanding its European footprint to boost economic and tourism ties between Saudi Arabia and Spain, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
Flight RX0531 touched down at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, marked by a reception attended by Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas, Atlético de Madrid CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, and senior executives from both companies. Atlético de Madrid is as sports partner of Riyadh Air.
Coinciding with the launch, the Saudi national carrier signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with Spanish airline Air Europa. Pending regulatory approvals, the agreement establishes a framework for interline connectivity, codeshares, and aligned loyalty programs across Air Europa’s network in Spain, Southern Europe, and Latin America.
The Madrid route follows the July 14 launch of seasonal flights to Málaga, which run through Sept. 8. Both routes were developed in cooperation with the Saudi Air Connectivity Program to support Vision 2030 objectives.
SPA noted the new connection will serve the estimated 250 Spanish companies operating in the Kingdom. It also cements Riyadh Air’s presence in Spanish sports, where it serves as the principal sponsor of Atlético de Madrid’s men’s and women’s teams and holds the naming rights to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium.
“Today, we have launched a vital bridge connecting Saudi Arabia and Spain like never before,” Douglas said. He added that the new routes and the Air Europa partnership mark a milestone in connecting Riyadh to leading global destinations.
The Madrid service is part of Riyadh Air’s initial network rollout, which began with ticket sales last month for flights to Jeddah, Dubai, Cairo, London, and Manchester.
Powered by a growing fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, the Public Investment Fund-owned airline expects to receive 10 aircraft by the end of 2026. Riyadh Air targets over 100 global destinations by 2030, projecting nearly $20 billion in contributions to the Kingdom’s non-oil economy and the creation of 200,000 jobs.
