According to industry reports, Riyadh Air is officially one step closer to entering and servicing the massive Chinese aviation market after securing key regulatory approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The newly inaugurated airline has received authorisation for two key routes from Saudi Arabia; the authorised routes will connect the Saudi capital with Beijing and Shanghai.
According to the CAAC’s official approvals for the second quarter of 2026, the Saudi carrier has been cleared for both passenger and cargo services. Under the new agreement, Riyadh Air is authorised to run three weekly flights to Beijing, and four weekly flights to Shanghai.
To support this rapid growth, the airline is currently evaluating further fleet expansion, looking to convert options for an additional 25 to 30 Boeing 787s into firm orders alongside potential growth in its Airbus A350-1000 orders.
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Ease of Travel & Visa Access
While this regulatory green light does not mean immediate takeoff — official launch dates and ticket sales have yet to be announced — it allows the airline to finalise airport negotiations, secure ground arrangements, and officially integrate the Chinese hubs into its upcoming flight schedules.
This intriguing connectivity confirmation follows fresh data, from Chinese Tourism to the Middle East and North Africa 2025 White Paper, that outlines Saudi Arabia as being one of the most popular tourist destinations for Chinese tourists visiting the Middle East.
It is also supported by the seamless visa process for tourists and business people travelling between the two countries: China has extended its visa-free entry policy for Saudi citizens through December 31, 2026, while Chinese travellers are eligible for a Saudi eVisa, which allows for a stay of up to 90 days. These agreements align with the rising travel demand and strengthening ties between the two nations.
Riyadh Air Current & Expanding Connectivity
The new airline's push into East Asia comes amid an aggressive international rollout fuelled by the delivery of the airline's first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, and the booking of a dozen more. Riyadh Air executives held groundwork meetings with Chinese regulators and airports as early as 2023, later signing a memorandum of understanding with China Eastern Airlines in 2024 to foster future collaboration.
Once flights to Beijing and Shanghai launch, Riyadh Air will enter a highly competitive market. Saudi Arabia’s current flag carrier, Saudia, holds about 60% of the seat capacity between the two nations. The remaining market share is split among major Chinese players, including Hainan Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Air China, and China Eastern Airlines.
The airline's rapid Eastward expansion is running in parallel with the airline's major push West and beyond. On June 16, 2026, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) officially approved Riyadh Air’s application for passenger and cargo operations in the USA. Following a swift turnaround after the carrier's initial filing in May, regulators confirmed that introducing the startup to the competitive transatlantic market serves the public interest.
From its base at King Khalid International Airport in the Kingdom's capital city, Riyadh Air already operates flights to Jeddah, Cairo, Dubai, and London Heathrow. Over the coming weeks and months, that new airline's active network is set to expand to include destinations such as Dhaka, Kuala Lumpur, Madrid, Malaga, Manchester, and Mumbai, with inaugural flights rolling out through the summer and autumn of 2026.
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Riyadh Air has been approved for passenger and cargo flights from Saudi Arabia to Shanghai and Beijing,
It is expected that the airline will operate three weekly, direct flights to Beijing and four to Shanghai
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