Riyadh Air connects Riyadh with Bangkok in major boost for Saudi-Thailand travel
Three weekly services will rise to seven from November 9
DUBAI – Riyadh Air has launched direct flights between Riyadh and Bangkok, opening a new non-stop link between Saudi Arabia and Thailand as both countries seek to deepen tourism, trade and investment ties.
The service connects King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, giving travellers a direct alternative to connecting through other regional hubs. The route will initially operate three times a week before increasing to daily service from November 9, 2026.
So much to experience in Bangkok ✈️
— Riyadh Air | طيران الرياض (@RiyadhAir) September 3, 2026
Discover it with three direct flights a week from Riyadh.
Bangkok is the airline’s 12th destination since Riyadh Air began its inaugural flight in June 2026. The new service is operated using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and is expected to strengthen air connectivity between the two countries while supporting Saudi Vision 2030 objectives focused on tourism, trade and international links.
New connection
The inaugural flight departed King Khalid International Airport at 10.15pm on Wednesday, September 2, and arrived at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport at 10.35am on Thursday, September 3, following a journey of around seven hours and 20 minutes.
During the initial phase, flights from Riyadh will operate every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Return services from Bangkok will run every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Each Boeing 787-9 aircraft can accommodate up to 290 passengers, with the initial schedule expected to provide around 3,840 inbound seats per month.
The non-stop service gives passengers travelling between Saudi Arabia and Thailand an additional option without requiring connections through Doha, Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
Tony Douglas, chief executive of Riyadh Air, said the direct connection between the two capitals underlines the airline’s commitment to supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 through stronger trade, tourism and cultural ties between Saudi Arabia and Thailand.
Saudi market
Thailand is looking to the new connectivity to help rebuild arrivals from Saudi Arabia, which have declined during 2026 despite the market’s strong spending potential.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand said 121,907 Saudi visitors had travelled to Thailand so far in 2026, compared with 142,774 during the same period in 2025. That represents a decline of 14.62 percent.
Chiravadee Khunsub, deputy governor for international marketing in Europe, America, the Middle East and Africa at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, welcomed the inaugural flight at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Thursday.
She said the Middle East remains an important long-haul market, particularly because of the spending power of visitors from the region. July to September is considered the summer and peak outbound travel period for Middle Eastern travellers.
Saudi visitors typically travel in large family groups, stay for around 10 to 12 days and spend approximately 110,000 baht per person per trip.
Their main interests include shopping, beaches and coastal destinations, nature, Thai cuisine, as well as medical and wellness tourism.
Tourism push
Thailand is also seeing Saudi travel extend beyond its most established destinations of Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya. Other destinations gaining interest include Krabi, Phang Nga, Koh Samui and Chiang Mai.
The tourism authority plans to use the additional flight capacity to target family, luxury, wellness and medical travellers from Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East.
Its promotional efforts include developing Muslim-friendly tourism products, expanding halal food options and providing facilities suited to Muslim visitors. Thailand also plans to strengthen digital marketing and work with online travel agencies to promote its destinations.
Further cooperation with Saudi government agencies and private-sector companies is also planned as Thailand seeks to expand tourism ties with the Saudi market.
The launch was marked by the “TAT x Riyadh Air - A New Era of Travel Gala Dinner 2026” at The Athenee Hotel in Bangkok on Thursday evening.
Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Thailand, Abdulrahman Abdulaziz Alsuhaibani, opened the event, while Riyadh Air chief executive Tony Douglas and Chiravadee Khunsub welcomed guests and highlighted opportunities for closer tourism cooperation.