Published on
December 28, 2025
Russia joins Austria, UK, Spain, France, Greece, and more as Saudia launches new direct flight routes, expanding its global network to strengthen tourism and aviation connections. This strategic move is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan, aiming to diversify its economy and attract 150 million visitors by the end of the decade. By launching direct routes to key destinations across Europe, Asia, and Africa, Saudia is playing a pivotal role in boosting global travel, enhancing accessibility, and supporting the Kingdom’s growing tourism sector. These new connections underscore the airline’s commitment to connecting Saudi Arabia to the world while facilitating cultural exchanges and economic growth.
In 2025, Saudia, Saudi Arabia’s flagship airline, has taken a significant step in expanding its global footprint with the launch of multiple direct routes across various regions, aligning with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals. This ambitious expansion is aimed at bolstering tourism, enhancing travel connectivity, and supporting the broader objectives of diversifying the economy, particularly the aviation and tourism sectors. The new routes reflect Saudia’s strategy to cater to the growing demand for air travel and tourism as the Kingdom surpasses its initial target of attracting 100 million visitors ahead of schedule, now setting sights on 150 million travelers by 2030.
Aiming to Become a Global Travel Hub
As part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, one of the core pillars of the country’s efforts is to reduce its reliance on oil revenues by diversifying its economy. The national aviation and tourism sectors are central to this diversification. In support of these objectives, Saudia has undertaken an aggressive route expansion strategy, launching more than 10 new international destinations in 2025. This strategic expansion of direct routes aims to further connect the Kingdom to Europe, Asia, and Africa while enhancing accessibility for tourists, business travelers, and international visitors.
Key New Routes and Destinations for 2025
From Europe’s cultural hubs to Asia’s bustling cities, Saudia has opened up new connections that will significantly enhance its global connectivity. The airline has focused on both well-established travel corridors as well as emerging markets, giving travelers more options and improving the overall travel experience. Below is a breakdown of the new routes Saudia has introduced in 2025:
| Departure City | New Destination | Region | Frequency | Start Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeddah | Vienna, Austria | Europe | 3x Weekly | January 2025 |
| Jeddah | Venice, Italy | Europe | 2x Weekly | February 2025 |
| Jeddah | Athens, Greece | Europe | 3x Weekly | March 2025 |
| Jeddah | Heraklion, Greece | Europe | Seasonal | Summer 2025 |
| Riyadh | Malaga, Spain | Europe | 3x Weekly | April 2025 |
| Riyadh | Nice, France | Europe | 3x Weekly | April 2025 |
| Riyadh | Larnaca, Cyprus | Europe | 2x Weekly | March 2025 |
| Riyadh | Salalah, Oman | Middle East | 4x Weekly | February 2025 |
| Riyadh | Antalya, Turkey | Europe | 3x Weekly | May 2025 |
| Jeddah | Bali, Indonesia | Asia | 2x Weekly | June 2025 |
| Jeddah | El Alamein, Egypt | Africa | 2x Weekly | March 2025 |
These routes cater to a broad spectrum of travelers, from leisure tourists seeking cultural escapes to business travelers looking for convenient connections between major cities across different continents.
Aviation and Tourism Synergy: Strengthening Saudi Arabia’s Global Appeal
Saudi Arabia has been accelerating its efforts to enhance its tourism sector, aiming to position the Kingdom as a key global tourism destination. In alignment with the National Tourism Strategy and the Air Connectivity Program, which was launched in 2021, the Saudi government has been proactive in encouraging international carriers to expand routes to the Kingdom while also focusing on expanding the reach of Saudi airlines.
This partnership between Saudia and the Saudi Tourism Authority underscores the importance of aviation in the broader tourism ecosystem. By adding new routes and increasing flight frequencies, Saudia plays a crucial role in meeting the targets of the National Tourism Strategy, which seeks to diversify the tourism base and increase inbound tourist traffic to the Kingdom.
One of the significant partnerships includes the Air Connectivity Program, which works to establish more direct routes to enhance Saudi Arabia’s connectivity with key destinations. By supporting the tourism sector and international relations, this initiative is vital for achieving the goal of connecting Saudi Arabia to 250 international destinations by 2030.
Strengthening Saudi-Russian Ties: Moscow Route Expansion
In a move that highlights the growing Saudi-Russian relations, Saudia also expanded its service to Moscow. The airline initially launched regular flights from Riyadh to Moscow in August 2025, operating four weekly services. However, the airline saw increasing demand and responded by launching direct flights between Jeddah and Moscow starting December 23, 2025. This new route, operating three times a week, is a significant milestone as it marks the first-ever scheduled flights by a Saudi carrier between Jeddah and Moscow.
This route expansion is expected to support the growing tourist exchange between the two countries. Saudi Arabia and Russia have been strengthening their bilateral ties, and this route plays a pivotal role in supporting tourism and business exchanges between the two nations. In a symbolic gesture of this growing relationship, a reception ceremony was held at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow, attended by dignitaries from the Saudi Embassy and the Russian Tourism Authority.
Tourism Surge and Economic Growth: Saudia’s Role in Vision 2030
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious tourism goals go hand-in-hand with the expansion of Saudia’s international routes. The growth of the airline’s network reflects the Kingdom’s strategy to create a vibrant tourism sector as a means of diversifying the economy. Saudi Arabia aims to attract 150 million visitors by the end of the decade, a substantial increase from its previous goal of 100 million, which it has already surpassed.
Through Vision 2030, the government envisions Saudi Arabia becoming one of the world’s leading destinations for both leisure and business tourism. Saudia’s route expansions are a critical element of this vision, as they provide the necessary infrastructure to support the influx of visitors.
The newly launched routes also coincide with an increase in the Kingdom’s MICE tourism (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions). As the country establishes itself as a hub for global business and leisure events, the expansion of Saudia’s international connectivity is seen as a crucial component of this transformation.
The Future of Saudia’s Expansion: What’s Next?
Looking ahead, Saudia’s expansion plans for 2025 and beyond are set to continue with new routes and additional frequencies. With demand for international travel expected to grow, Saudia will remain committed to offering seamless connectivity for its guests, making air travel between Saudi Arabia and the world even more accessible.
The airline is particularly focused on Europe and Asia, two major sources of inbound tourism for the Kingdom. It is expected that Saudia will further deepen its focus on Asia-Pacific destinations, tapping into markets with a high volume of outbound tourism, such as Japan, China, and India.
Additionally, Saudia will continue to play a key role in fostering the development of new cities in Saudi Arabia as tourism hotspots, particularly through its regional airports in Neom and Al-Ula. These regions are expected to grow as international tourism destinations, and Saudia is well-positioned to provide the necessary airlift to support this.
Saudia’s 2025 route expansions are a testament to Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to become a leading global tourism destination. By opening new direct flight routes to key destinations across Europe, Asia, and Africa, the airline is helping to position the Kingdom as a critical player in the global tourism and aviation sectors. This expansion not only supports the growth of Saudi Arabia’s economy but also fosters cultural exchanges and strengthens ties between Saudi Arabia and other nations.
Russia joins Austria, UK, Spain, France, Greece, and more as Saudia launches new direct flight routes to enhance global connectivity and support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals. This expansion strengthens tourism ties and boosts travel opportunities across key international destinations.
The future looks bright for both Saudia and the Kingdom’s tourism industry as they work together to create a more connected world. As the airline continues to grow its network, it will remain a key pillar in the realization of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, serving as a bridge between the Kingdom and the rest of the globe.
