Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier Riyadh Air launched its first scheduled service to Bangladesh on Saturday, with an inaugural Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flight landing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.
The flight from Riyadh arrived at around 6:30am and received a traditional water salute to mark the airline’s entry into the Bangladeshi market.
A ceremony at the airport was attended by Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Abdullah Zafer H Bin Abiya, HSIA Executive Director Group Captain SM Ragib Samad and Riyadh Air Chief Commercial Officer Vincent Coste.
Speakers at the event said the new route reflected Riyadh Air’s ambition to connect Saudi Arabia with major global cities while offering passengers a premium travel experience.
They said the non-stop service would strengthen air connectivity between Dhaka and Riyadh and help meet growing demand for business and leisure travel between the two countries.
Riyadh Air will operate the route daily using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Under the schedule, flights will depart Riyadh at 9:20 pm local time and arrive in Dhaka at 6:30 am the following day.
The return flight will leave Dhaka at 7:40 am and arrive in Riyadh at 10:55 am local time.
With the launch, Riyadh Air joins Saudia, Biman Bangladesh Airlines and US-Bangla Airlines in operating direct flights between Dhaka and Riyadh.
