Air France-KLM Expands Saudi Routes in 2025
Air France-KLM is set to strengthen its presence in Saudi Arabia by launching new services and enhancing partnerships with fellow SkyTeam alliance member Saudia. Starting in the summer of 2025, Air France will reintroduce nonstop flights between Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH), marking its return to the route after more than six years.
The airline suspended its Paris-Riyadh service in January 2019, leaving the Saudi market absent from its network. The revival of this route signifies Air France-KLM’s commitment to tapping into the growing demand for travel between Europe and Saudi Arabia. “Saudi Arabia is rapidly emerging as a world-class destination and a key gateway,” said Air France-KLM CEO Benjamin Smith on December 3. “We are delighted to support the Kingdom in this new chapter by expanding our connections and strengthening our existing ones.”
With this expansion, all three Air France-KLM Group airlines—Air France, KLM, and Transavia—will serve the Saudi market. Low-cost carrier Transavia France is set to launch flights to Jeddah from Paris Orly and Lyon on December 12 and 13, respectively. Both services will operate twice weekly using Boeing 737-800 aircraft. KLM already operates flights to Riyadh and Dammam from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, further solidifying the group’s footprint in the region.
The expansion is supported by the Saudi Air Connectivity Program, a government initiative aimed at boosting tourism by increasing air connectivity to key destinations. This program has been instrumental in attracting international airlines and enhancing the country’s aviation infrastructure. After securing the Transavia France routes, Saudi Air Connectivity Program CEO Majid Khan revealed that the program has exceeded its 2024 targets by gaining 22 new routes and attracting 12 international airlines. The goal now is to bring in an additional 10 airlines over the next 12 months, focusing on carriers from the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
In tandem with the route expansion, Air France-KLM and Saudia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to deepen their partnership. The agreement aims to significantly expand their existing codeshare and interline commercial agreements between France, the Netherlands, and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the MOU includes initiatives to optimize operations and improve customer experience, such as terminal co-location at key airports and enhanced maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) cooperation. This could potentially lead to a joint venture on GEnx engines used on Boeing 787 aircraft.
Currently, four nonstop routes connect France and Saudi Arabia. Saudia operates three of them, linking Paris Charles de Gaulle with Jeddah, Madinah, and Riyadh. The fourth route is served by Flynas, connecting Jeddah and Marseille. The addition of Transavia France’s new routes will further increase connectivity between the two nations.
Transavia France’s Chief Commercial Officer Nicolas Henin mentioned that the new Saudi routes are “pushing the limits” of the airline’s network in terms of distance. While this raises questions about the potential acquisition of longer-range aircraft, Henin confirmed that the carrier is considering the Airbus A321XLR but has no immediate plans to incorporate it into the fleet.
Majid Khan highlighted the support from the Saudi Arabia General Authority of Civil Aviation, noting several new air transport agreements and MOUs signed in recent months. The latest agreement to enhance connectivity was with Lithuania, signed on December 2. “The authorities have been very supportive of our ambitions,” Khan stated, emphasizing the collaborative efforts to make Saudi Arabia a global aviation hub.
Air France-KLM’s renewed focus on Saudi Arabia aligns with the Kingdom’s vision to become a leading international tourism destination. The increased air connectivity is expected to boost passenger traffic, promote cultural exchange, and stimulate economic growth in the region. As the airline group expands its services, travelers can look forward to more options and improved travel experiences between Europe and Saudi Arabia.
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