Riyadh Cargo has been unveiled as Riyadh Air’s freighter operations division marking the beginning of belly-hold cargo flights across its 122 wide-body aircraft fleet.
On January 21, 2026, Riyadh Air described the new freighter service as a “core pillar of its commercial operations” as it looks to establish the Saudi Arabian capital as a “strategic global logistics hub”.
“The launch of the brand reflects a deliberate, phased approach to building a scalable and integrated cargo business, anchored at the airline’s Riyadh hub, and designed to grow in step with network expansion and operational maturity,” said a spokesperson for Riyadh Air.
According to the carrier, Riyadh Cargo has demonstrated operational momentum on the Riyadh to London-Heathrow (LHR) route, successfully transporting substantial cargo volumes across a wide spectrum of commodities.
“Riyadh Cargo has been built with a clear focus on operational discipline, reliability, and long-term scalability. Launching within a live environment allows us to test, learn, and continuously refine how we operate, while delivering real value to our customers from the get-go,” said Pravin Singh, Global Head of Cargo at Riyadh Air.
نفخر بالإعلان عن إطلاق "الرياض للشحن" في خطوة تمثل دخولنا رسميًا إلى سوق الشحن الجوي العالمي 📦
— Riyadh Air | طيران الرياض (@RiyadhAir) January 21, 2026
وذلك ضمن نهج تدريجي ومدروس لبناء أعمال شحن متكاملة وقابلة للتوسع، مدعومة بأسطولنا عريض البدن، انطلاقًا من مركزنا الرئيسي في الرياض.
He added: “The launch of the brand is a foundational step in building a cargo business that grows alongside our network expansion and supports Saudi Arabia’s broader logistics ambitions.”
As part of its plans to launch cargo operations, Riyadh Air has partnered with CHAMPS’s Cargo spot-neo, a next-gen cargo end-to-end platform.
“The digital management system enables greater operational control, enhanced data visibility, and more responsive decision-making, supporting service reliability as volumes and network complexity expand,” said the airline spokesperson.
On the ground, cargo handling and hub management are delivered in partnership with SATS Saudi Arabia Company.
Services are provided at key airports across Saudi Arabia, including King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh, King Fahd International Airport (DMM) in Dammam, and King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah.