India’s Akasa Air launches Riyadh service

India’s Akasa Air has commenced operations to Riyadh connecting it to Mumbai with daily direct flights. The inaugural flight on 15 June 2024 departed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai. 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. 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.” Belson Coutinho, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing and Experience Officer, Akasa Air said that, “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 between Mumbai and Riyadh 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.” Akasa Air launched international routes with operations to Doha on 28 March 2024.  In May 2024, the airline announced operations from Jeddah. The launch of flights to Riyadh will provide further impetus to the Government of Saudi Arabia’s aim of enhancing global connectivity, tripling air passenger traffic 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 expand its global presence in the coming months. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]