Riyadh Air lands in Spain with direct Air Europa alliance
Riyadh Air has officially landed in Spain. The new Saudi national carrier touched down at Madrid-Barajas on Friday with its inaugural flight from Riyadh, according to Hosteltur. And it came with a double play: a direct regular route (the only one between the two countries) and a strategic alliance with Air Europa.
The deal links Saudi Arabia with Spain and Latin America through both networks. Make no mistake: this is more than a simple codeshare. Riyadh Air is positioning itself as a hub between the Middle East and Latin America, bypassing the traditional Gulf axis. Iberia won't love this, but for Air Europa it's a massive boost.
My take: Saudi Arabia is going all in on tourism and connectivity, and using Spain as a gateway to Latin America is a smart move. Travel agencies and OTAs working those corridors should start checking fares and terms on this new route.
- Inaugural flight: Riyadh-Madrid, direct and regular.
- Air Europa alliance: connections to Latin America.
- Season: starts as a seasonal service, per the source.
Quick questions
When did Riyadh Air start operating in Spain?
What alliance did Riyadh Air sign in Spain?
Is Riyadh Air a low-cost carrier?
What routes does Riyadh Air cover from Spain?
How does this affect travel agencies?
Was this article useful?
The daily brief
Notitur in your inbox
One sharp travel-industry brief a day. Free.
Editorial content by Notitur. It may contain errors. Verify anything important with the original source.
This article may mention third-party products, companies or services for informational purposes. Notitur does not endorse them and is not responsible for them or for what they offer. Editorial content curated by the Notitur team.