beOnd adds five routes from Red Sea International, talks financial outlook

Airlines Commercial airplane with a circular pattern livery flies above orange pink clouds at sunset BEOND branding visible on the fuselage
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Luxury airline beOnd announced on July 24, 2026, that it is launching several new routes out of Red Sea International Airport (RSI), Saudi Arabia. 

Starting in December 2026, these new services will connect the newly developed high-end destination on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast to London, Paris, Moscow, Zurich (ZRH) and Munich (MUC).  

Additionally, in October 2026, beOnd will also reinstate the link between Red Sea International and Milan Malpensa (MXP), which was first launched in November 2025

All these services will be operated three times per week, except those to Munich and Milan, which will run twice weekly. 

“Our announcement of beOnd’s Milan route last year demonstrated the strong demand for direct premium access to The Red Sea. Today’s agreement builds on that momentum by expanding our European network and bringing our destinations within easier reach of travelers from key source markets,” stated John Pagano, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Red Sea Global, the parent company of Red Sea International Airport (RSI). “This is another important step in accelerating the growth of regenerative tourism, and welcoming more guests to experience a destination unlike any other.”  

Red Sea International Airport, which became operational in 2023, was built as a greenfield project to act as a gateway to a network of luxury island resorts which are being developed in Western Saudi Arabia. This is one of the Saudi Kingdom’s flagship projects to become one of the world’s key tourist destinations. 

This latest announcement will see beOnd become the carrier with the largest number of destinations out of Red Sea International and the only one to operate scheduled services to destinations outside of the Gulf region. As of July 2026, this leisure-oriented airport is also served by flydubai, Qatar Airways and Saudia, which operate services to their respective hubs in the region. 

beOnd will operate its European services with A320 family aircraft fitted with an all-business class cabin. 

The premium carrier, which was originally established in the Maldives, has been working with the Saudi Air Connectivity Program, a government-sponsored program aimed at attracting new air links to Saudi Arabia, as well as with the Kingdom’s tourism authorities, to build up its presence in Saudi Arabia. During a conversation with AeroTime in December 2025, beOnd’s CEO, Tero Taskila confirmed the prominence of Saudi Arabia in the carrier’s expansion plans and its application to obtain a Saudi Air Operator Certificate (AOC). 

On beOnd’s financial situation 

With the announcement that it will continue expanding its international network, beOnd appears to be leaving behind rumors regarding its possible liquidity issues. In June 2026, reports appeared online suggesting that the airline had fallen behind in its payroll payments.  

The rumors followed an announcement made by the airline in April 2026 regarding the suspension of all scheduled services until October 2026. The airline attributed the latter decision to a combination of the tense military situation in the Middle East, combined with the fact that summer is low season at most of the destinations it serves. 

“beOnd has made the necessary progress to address funding,” a spokesperson for the airline told AeroTime in an emailed statement on July 26, 2026. “While the delays had an impact on some employees, including members of management, as part of our cash management measures amid the current investment for fleet growth and AOC expansion, all outstanding salaries have now been paid and are fully up to date.” 

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