Riyadh Air's maiden flight from the Saudi capital landed in Madrid on July 17, establishing the only direct scheduled air link between the two capitals, the airline said in a statement.

Flight RX0531 touched down at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport aboard a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, arriving three days after the carrier launched a seasonal service to Malaga on July 14, which will run through September 8.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Madrid airport was attended by Riyadh Air chief executive Tony Douglas and Atlético Madrid chief executive Miguel Marín. Douglas said the Madrid launch, together with the Malaga service and a new partnership with Air Europa, marked a major step in connecting Riyadh to the world.

Coinciding with the Madrid arrival, Riyadh Air signed a memorandum of understanding with Spanish carrier Air Europa to link their networks across Southern Europe and Latin America.

Subject to regulatory approval, the two airlines plan to pursue interline connectivity, possible codeshare cooperation, reciprocal loyalty benefits, cargo cooperation, and joint digital initiatives, using Madrid-Barajas as a key transit point.

The airline said nearly 250 Spanish companies currently operate in Saudi Arabia, and the new route was developed with Saudi Arabia's Air Connectivity Program, which supports the kingdom's national tourism and aviation strategies.

Riyadh Air is also the sponsor of Atlético Madrid's men's and women's teams and the naming partner of the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium.

Source: PR