Riyadh Air Selects Islamabad and Lahore for Pakistan Debut With Boeing 787-9s
Riyadh Air will enter the Pakistani market in August 2026, launching Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner service from King Khalid International Airport (RUH) to Islamabad International Airport (ISB) and Allama Iqbal International Airport (LHE) in Lahore.
Daily flights between Riyadh Airport (RUH) and Islamabad Airport (ISB) will begin on August 14, followed by three weekly Riyadh–Lahore flights on August 18. Reservations opened on July 30, giving Pakistan two of the newest destinations in Riyadh Air’s rapidly developing international network.
The airline’s latest Pakistan schedule filing shows 10 weekly round trips operated exclusively by the Boeing 787-9. Islamabad will receive seven flights per week, while Lahore will be served every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
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Riyadh–Islamabad Will Operate Daily
Riyadh Air will divide its daily Islamabad service between two sets of flight numbers and departure times.
On four days each week, the airline will operate:
RX659: King Khalid International Airport (RUH) 1:45 p.m. – Islamabad International Airport (ISB) 8:00 p.m.
RX660: Islamabad International Airport (ISB) 9:30 p.m. – King Khalid International Airport (RUH) 12:00 a.m. the following day.
On the remaining three days, the schedule will use:
RX661: King Khalid International Airport (RUH) 8:10 p.m. – Islamabad International Airport (ISB) 2:25 a.m. the following day.
RX662: Islamabad International Airport (ISB) 4:25 a.m. – King Khalid International Airport (RUH) 6:50 a.m.
Pakistan is two hours ahead of Saudi Arabia. After accounting for the time difference, both Riyadh-to-Islamabad departures have a scheduled block time of four hours and 15 minutes. The return flights are scheduled for approximately four hours and 25 to four hours and 30 minutes.
The two schedule patterns allow Riyadh Air to serve different passenger needs. The afternoon departure from Riyadh Airport (RUH) reaches Islamabad Airport (ISB) during the evening, while the later flight arrives shortly after midnight and returns to Saudi Arabia early the following morning.
Daily frequency will also make Islamabad Riyadh Air’s larger Pakistani market from the outset, accounting for 70% of its initial departures to the country.
Lahore Flights Begin Four Days Later
Riyadh Air will launch its second Pakistani route on August 18, with three weekly Boeing 787-9 flights between Riyadh Airport (RUH) and Lahore Airport (LHE).
The schedule will be:
RX675: King Khalid International Airport (RUH) 1:40 p.m. – Allama Iqbal International Airport (LHE) 7:50 p.m.
RX676: Allama Iqbal International Airport (LHE) 9:20 p.m. – King Khalid International Airport (RUH) 12:00 a.m. the following day.
Flights will operate every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
The eastbound flight is scheduled for four hours and 10 minutes, while the return to Riyadh Airport (RUH) will take approximately four hours and 40 minutes. The aircraft will spend one hour and 30 minutes on the ground in Lahore before returning to Saudi Arabia.
The alternating-day pattern gives Riyadh Air a controlled entry into Lahore while still offering a schedule suitable for short visits, business travel, and passengers connecting through Riyadh.
Boeing 787-9 Brings a Premium Widebody Product
The use of a Boeing 787-9 on every Pakistan flight is one of the most significant parts of the announcement.
The Riyadh–Islamabad and Riyadh–Lahore sectors are only slightly more than four hours long, meaning the Dreamliner’s long-range capability is not operationally necessary. Boeing publishes a maximum range of up to 8,300 nautical miles for the 787-9, far beyond what is required for either route.
Instead, Riyadh Air is using the widebody for its capacity, premium cabin, cargo volume, and ability to support connecting traffic through King Khalid International Airport (RUH).
Riyadh Air configures its Boeing 787-9s for 290 passengers:
- Four Business Elite seats
- 24 Business Class seats
- 39 Premium Economy seats
- 223 Economy Class seats
Business Elite and Business Class use a 1-2-1 layout with fully flat beds and direct aisle access. Premium Economy is arranged 2-3-2, while Economy uses the standard 3-3-3 Dreamliner configuration. Riyadh Air’s cabin design also includes large 4K entertainment screens, Bluetooth connectivity, and power options throughout the aircraft.
The product gives Riyadh Air a meaningful point of differentiation in markets where narrowbody Airbus A320-family aircraft are commonly used. It will also introduce a dedicated premium-economy cabin between Riyadh and both Pakistani cities.
Nearly 5,800 Weekly Seats Across Pakistan
Once both routes reach their normal operating pattern, Riyadh Air will schedule 10 weekly Boeing 787-9 round trips to Pakistan.
With 290 seats per flight, the airline will offer:
- 2,030 weekly seats from Riyadh Airport (RUH) to Islamabad Airport (ISB)
- 870 weekly seats from Riyadh Airport (RUH) to Lahore Airport (LHE)
- 2,900 seats in each direction across the two routes
That equals 5,800 one-way seats per week when outbound and return capacity are combined.
The widebody aircraft also provides substantial lower-deck cargo space. That capacity could be important for shipments involving textiles, produce, pharmaceuticals, e-commerce, and other time-sensitive goods moving between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia or connecting through Riyadh.
Riyadh Air formally launched its cargo division in January 2026, identifying freight as a core part of its strategy to develop the Saudi capital into a larger aviation and logistics hub.
Riyadh Air Enters Established Markets
Neither Islamabad nor Lahore is an unserved market from Riyadh.
Several Saudi and Pakistani airlines already compete for passengers traveling between the two countries. flynas, for example, currently markets approximately four weekly nonstop flights between Riyadh Airport (RUH) and Islamabad Airport (ISB) and also sells nonstop service between Riyadh and Lahore Airport (LHE).
Riyadh Air will therefore need to win passengers from established operators rather than simply stimulating an entirely new market.
Its strongest advantages will be the Boeing 787-9 cabin, daily Islamabad frequency, premium-economy seating, and the possibility of onward connections as its Riyadh network expands.
The airline is entering a market supported by several distinct traffic segments. These include Pakistani residents working in Saudi Arabia, passengers visiting friends and relatives, business travelers, government traffic, and travelers connecting to other destinations through Riyadh.
Islamabad Airport (ISB) serves Pakistan’s capital and surrounding northern regions, while Lahore Airport (LHE) provides access to Punjab, the country’s most populous province. Together, the two airports give Riyadh Air exposure to two of Pakistan’s largest international travel markets.
Pakistan Supports Riyadh Air’s Rapid Expansion
Riyadh Air began full public operations with its first newly delivered Boeing 787-9s in June 2026. The airline is now quickly adding international destinations as more Dreamliners arrive.
CEO Tony Douglas said in June that Riyadh Air planned to serve 22 cities by March 2027. The airline is ultimately targeting more than 100 destinations by 2030 as part of Saudi Arabia’s broader effort to turn Riyadh into a major global aviation center.
Riyadh Air’s initial network includes destinations such as London Heathrow Airport (LHR), Dubai International Airport (DXB), Cairo International Airport (CAI), Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD), Manchester Airport (MAN), Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM), Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL), and Dhaka Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC).
Islamabad and Lahore strengthen the airline’s presence in South Asia, where Riyadh Air can draw from large labor, business, and visiting-friends-and-relatives markets while building connections between the region and its expanding European, Middle Eastern, and Asian network.
The airline currently has 39 Boeing 787-9s confirmed, with options for 33 additional aircraft. Riyadh Air has also committed to Airbus A321neo and A350-1000 fleets for future expansion.
Bottom Line
Riyadh Air will launch its first flights to Pakistan in August 2026, beginning with daily Boeing 787-9 service between King Khalid International Airport (RUH) and Islamabad International Airport (ISB) on August 14.
Three weekly flights to Allama Iqbal International Airport (LHE) in Lahore will follow on August 18, operating every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
The two routes will provide 10 weekly round trips and up to 5,800 one-way seats across the Saudi Arabia–Pakistan market. Every flight is scheduled with Riyadh Air’s 290-seat Boeing 787-9, featuring Business Elite, Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy cabins.
Riyadh Air is entering two well-established and competitive markets, but the Dreamliner gives the new airline a premium product advantage over many of the narrowbody aircraft commonly used between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
More broadly, the launch demonstrates how quickly Riyadh Air is moving beyond high-profile European and Gulf destinations. Islamabad and Lahore give the airline access to substantial year-round demand while helping establish Riyadh Airport (RUH) as a connecting hub for South Asia.
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