Riyadh Air launches Riyadh-Bangkok route on Sept 3, 2026
TAT welcomes Riyadh Air's inaugural Riyadh-Bangkok flight using a Boeing 787-9 aircraft on Sept 3, 2026, boosting Saudi tourism access.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Riyadh Air launched its inaugural direct flight linking Riyadh and Bangkok on Sept 3, 2026
- Operations start with three weekly Boeing 787-9 flights before scaling to daily in October
- The route adds about 3,840 inbound seats monthly to Thailand from Saudi Arabia
- Saudi visitors stay 10-12 days on average, spending around 110,000 Baht per trip
The Tourism Authority of Thailand welcomed Riyadh Air's inaugural service from Riyadh to Bangkok on September 3, 2026, marking a significant milestone in enhancing long-haul accessibility and bolstering high-value tourism demand from Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East. Celebrations continued that evening with the "TAT x Riyadh Air – A New Era of Travel Gala Dinner 2026" held in Bangkok.
The inaugural flight departed King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh at 22:15 on September 2 and touched down at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 10:35 on September 3. H.E. Mr. Abdulrahman Abdulaziz Alsuhaibani, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Thailand, was among the passengers on the inaugural flight, highlighting deepening bilateral cooperation in tourism and transport.
Mrs. Chiravadee Khunsub, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing for Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa, stated that the new Riyadh-Bangkok service expands direct seating capacity at a crucial juncture for developing the Middle Eastern market, offering travellers more convenient connections to Bangkok and destinations across Thailand while supporting high-value family, luxury, wellness, and medical segments.
Operating as Riyadh Air's 14th route, the service utilizes Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft configured with 290 seats. Initially running three times a week with departures from Riyadh on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and from Bangkok on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, the frequency will scale up to seven weekly flights in October 2026. This initial schedule provides roughly 3,840 monthly inbound seats while strengthening economic and trade ties.
"The Riyadh–Bangkok service adds direct capacity at an important time for TAT's development of Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East."
Later on September 3, Riyadh Air hosted the gala dinner at The Athenee Hotel Bangkok, inaugurated by Ambassador Alsuhaibani alongside airline CEO Tony Douglas and TAT's Chiravadee Khunsub to celebrate bilateral tourism ties. The Middle East remains a strategically vital long-haul market for Thailand during the peak July-September travel season, thanks to strong demand for nature, leisure, wellness, and Muslim-friendly facilities.
The establishment of this direct air link underscores a calculated aviation strategy to capture high-spending travellers from Saudi Arabia. By transitioning to a daily frequency in October, the airline removes transportation bottlenecks, enabling secondary Thai destinations beyond Bangkok, Phuket, and Pattaya to capture a larger share of outbound travellers from the Gulf region.
Saudi Arabia stands out as one of the region's highest-potential markets, with visitors typically staying 10 to 12 days and spending approximately 110,000 Baht per person per trip. Key interests include shopping, beaches, nature, Thai cuisine, and medical wellness, with family travel surging and expanding into locations like Krabi, Phang-nga, Koh Samui, and Chiang Mai.
Thailand has recorded 121,907 arrivals from Saudi Arabia so far in 2026, compared to 142,774 during the same period in 2025, marking a 14.62% decrease. TAT is actively working to reverse this trend through enhanced air connectivity like the new Riyadh Air route, alongside targeted Muslim-friendly offerings and digital marketing campaigns.
Source: TAT Newsroom
Found something wrong in this article? Report an issue with this article
Comments
Leave a Comment