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Riyadh Air launched direct flights between Riyadh and Manila on September 9, initially flying four times a week before moving to a daily schedule on October 19
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The route is operated using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners; Manila-based passengers can also connect through Riyadh to destinations across Europe
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The launch marks Riyadh Air’s seventh destination in Asia and strengthens travel links with the Philippines, home to a large Saudi-based Filipino workforce, while Saudi passport holders now get 30-day visa-free entry into the country
Riyadh Air has launched direct flights between Riyadh and Manila, starting with four weekly services before moving to a daily schedule on October 19.
The airline’s inaugural flight arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on September 9 — its 13th inaugural flight since starting commercial operations in June, and its seventh destination in Asia, according to Riyadh Air.
The route initially operates every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Flight RX873 departs King Khalid International Airport at 1:05 a.m. and arrives in Manila at 3:55 p.m.; the return flight, RX874, departs Manila at 5:25 p.m. and arrives in Riyadh at 10:15 p.m., based on the airline’s published schedule.
Riyadh Air said the new route is meant to serve demand between Saudi Arabia and the Philippines, particularly among Filipino workers and other travelers moving between the two countries. Passengers departing from Manila can also connect through Riyadh to destinations across Europe.
Saudi Arabia remains a major destination for overseas Filipino workers — more than 61,000 were deployed to the Kingdom in January 2026 alone, according to the Department of Migrant Workers. The route is also expected to support growing travel in the other direction, with Saudi passport holders now eligible for 30 days of visa-free entry to the Philippines.
Riyadh Air is wholly owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and has set a target of serving more than 100 destinations worldwide by 2030.
