Saudia Cargo and Riyadh Cargo Seal Interline Deal to Fast-Track Saudi Arabia’s Global Logistics Ambitions

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Saudia Cargo and Riyadh Cargo have signed an interline agreement that immediately extends the young carrier’s network reach beyond its six current direct destinations, giving freight forwarders broader routing options through Saudi Arabia as the Kingdom accelerates its bid to become a premier global logistics hub.

The deal, announced on July 28, 2026, combines Saudia Cargo’s established cargo operations with Riyadh Cargo’s digitally native model and expanding footprint. It supports Riyadh Cargo’s target of serving more than 100 global destinations by 2030, a timeline that underscores the urgency behind Saudi Arabia’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy and Vision 2030.

For freight forwarders and logistics partners, the interline arrangement means seamless connectivity across key trade corridors without the need for multiple bookings. It expands available cargo capacity and improves the flow of goods across international markets by allowing both carriers to sell space on each other’s networks.

Riyadh Cargo, the freight division of Riyadh Air and a wholly owned Public Investment Fund (PIF) company, currently operates direct services to London, Dubai, Cairo, Jeddah, Madrid, and Malaga. The agreement immediately strengthens connectivity to upcoming destinations including Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur, and Dhaka.

The partnership reinforces Riyadh and Jeddah as complementary gateways for international trade, a central pillar of Saudi Arabia’s broader economic diversification plan. By integrating Saudia Cargo’s decades of operational expertise with Riyadh Cargo’s technology driven approach, both carriers aim to capture a larger share of transhipment and origin/destination cargo moving between Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Eng. Mansour Alasmi, vice president of network and revenue at Saudia Cargo, said the initiative reflects a firm belief in integration to strengthen the Kingdom’s logistics ecosystem. He stated that combining Saudia Cargo’s global capabilities with Riyadh Cargo’s ambitions will provide customers with more integrated trade solutions while driving sustainable growth for both organizations.

Pravin Singh, vice president of cargo at Riyadh Air, said the agreement extends the carrier’s reach and opens new trade opportunities. He noted that Riyadh Cargo has a clear ambition to become a modern, digitally enabled, and reliable cargo business serving key international markets, and that the deal helps position Riyadh as an important gateway in the future of global logistics.

The interline agreement follows Saudia Cargo’s recent launch of a scheduled route between Riyadh and Melbourne, signaling a broader push to capture Australasian trade flows. With Riyadh Air building out a fleet of more than 120 wide body aircraft, Riyadh Cargo’s belly hold capacity is expected to scale rapidly, giving the interline partnership increasing volume potential as new routes come online through 2026 and beyond.