Thai AirAsia X announced it will launch the Bangkok/Don Mueang–Riyadh route on December 2.
It will operate four round trips per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The route will be flown with Airbus A330-300 aircraft configured with 285 seats (30 Premium Flatbed and 255 economy). Scheduled flight time is 8 hours 20 minutes from Bangkok/Don Mueang and 7 hours 10 minutes from Riyadh.
Within the AirAsia group, AirAsia X already serves Jeddah and Medina from Kuala Lumpur; Riyadh will be a first-time destination. This is Thai AirAsia X’s first route to the Middle East; this month it also announced new service to Almaty and Sendai in Japan.
Between Bangkok and Riyadh, Saudia currently operates three round trips per week to and from Suvarnabhumi Airport.
At a press conference, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Patra Boonsarawong said the carrier aims to capture connecting demand from ASEAN countries as well as from Japan, and leisure demand from Saudi Arabia to Thai tourist destinations such as Phuket and Krabi.
