Riyadh Air has received approval from the US Department of Transportation to operate flights to and from the United States, paving the way for the carrier's entry into one of its most important planned markets.
The authorization was granted on June 16 after the airline applied for a foreign air carrier permit last month. According to the US agency, allowing Riyadh Air to enter the market is consistent with the public interest.
The approval opens the door for the airline to launch services to the United States, a market that chief executive Tony Douglas has previously identified as a priority, particularly destinations on the East Coast.
The decision comes less than a week after Riyadh Air launched its first scheduled flight to London using its own Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet. The carrier had previously operated commercial services through wet-leased aircraft while awaiting deliveries of its own jets.
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Fleet growth has accelerated in recent days. Between June 4 and June 14, Riyadh Air received four new Boeing 787-9s, bringing the airline closer to its target of operating eight aircraft by the end of July.
Founded in 2023 and backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Riyadh Air was created to expand the country's aviation and tourism sectors beyond its traditional oil-based economy.
The airline has announced routes to Cairo, Dubai, Jeddah, Madrid, Manchester and London, with additional destinations in India expected to follow.
Douglas said last week that Riyadh Air aims to serve 22 cities by March 2027 and more than 100 destinations by the end of the decade.
To support those plans, the airline has placed orders for up to 72 Boeing 787s, as many as 60 Airbus A321neos and up to 50 Airbus A350s.
Riyadh Air has also established partnerships with several international carriers, including Delta Air Lines. The US airline plans to launch nonstop flights between Atlanta and Riyadh in October.
Saudi Arabia currently has two national airlines, Saudia and Riyadh Air. While Saudia remains the country's flag carrier, Riyadh Air is being developed as a new global network airline based in the Saudi capital.
