Riyadh Air Strengthens Presence in Spain with Launch of Madrid Service
Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's new national carrier and a Public Investment Fund company, officially launched its service to Madrid today with the arrival of its inaugural flight from Riyadh at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport.
The arrival of flight RX0531 marks the launch of the first scheduled nonstop air service between Riyadh and Madrid, strengthening travel and enhancing economic, tourism, and cultural ties between Saudi Arabia and Spain. The route was launched in cooperation with the Air Connectivity Program to support the Kingdom's air connectivity objectives in line with the Aviation Program and Saudi Vision 2030.
The inaugural Madrid service comes just three days after the successful launch of seasonal flights to Málaga on July 14, 2026. The Málaga service further expands Riyadh Air's network, offering travelers direct access to Spain's Costa del Sol through September 8, 2026.
To mark the launch of the Madrid route, an official reception ceremony was held at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, featuring a ribbon-cutting attended by Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas, the Atlético de Madrid CEO, and senior executives from Riyadh Air and the airport.
The Riyadh-Madrid service is expected to strengthen economic, tourism, and cultural relations between Saudi Arabia and Spain, particularly as around 250 Spanish companies currently operate in the Kingdom. The new nonstop connection also provides direct access to Riyadh, which continues to grow as a global logistics and business hub under Saudi Vision 2030. Beyond its economic significance, the service further reinforces Riyadh Air's presence in Spanish sports through its strategic partnership with Atlético de Madrid as the club's principal sponsor and official partner of both the men's and women's teams, as well as the naming-rights partner of Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium.
Coinciding with the launch, Riyadh Air announced the signing of a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Spanish carrier Air Europa. Subject to regulatory approvals, the MoU aims to establish a framework for seamless passenger connectivity between the two airlines' hubs, leveraging Air Europa's extensive network across Spain, Southern Europe, and Latin America through Madrid-Barajas Airport as a key gateway.
The cooperation is expected to focus on interline connectivity, exploring codeshare opportunities, aligning loyalty programs, and collaborating in air cargo and digital innovation initiatives.
Commenting on the occasion, Riyadh Air CEO Douglas said: "Today, we have launched a vital bridge connecting Saudi Arabia and Spain like never before. The arrival of our inaugural Madrid flight, together with the launch of our seasonal Málaga service and our strategic partnership with Air Europa, marks another important milestone in our mission to connect Riyadh with the world's leading destinations. We are delighted to welcome our guests aboard our state-of-the-art Dreamliner aircraft to experience authentic Saudi hospitality, while offering travelers from Spain a direct gateway to the growing business and tourism opportunities in Riyadh."
