Air France to Begin Flights to Riyadh in 2025
Air France is gearing up to extend its wings once more, whisking away eager passengers to a buzzing new locale. It’s like spotting a celebrity at your local cafe—you’re thrilled, but not entirely shocked. This time, the destination du jour is Riyadh, and the airline giant is all set to begin operation in the coming weeks. Now, let’s dive into what this all means for travelers and AvGeeks alike.
Air France Launches Paris to Riyadh Route Using the A350
Starting May 19, 2025, Air France will roll out new flights connecting Paris (CDG) to Riyadh (RUH) five times a week. Here’s how the schedule looks:
- AF684 Paris to Riyadh – Departure: 11:20 PM, Arrival: 6:25 AM (+1 day)
- AF685 Riyadh to Paris – Departure: 8:40 AM, Arrival: 2:20 PM
The journey covers a 2,893-mile stretch, with flights taking approximately 6 hours and 5 minutes eastbound and 6 hours and 40 minutes when heading west. Air France will deploy the Airbus A350-900 for this route, offering 324 seats: 34 in business class, 24 in premium economy, and 266 in economy class. This move marks a comeback for Air France in Riyadh after a hiatus since 2019. It also solidifies its position as the only Air France-KLM route to Saudi Arabia, rekindling its camaraderie with Saudia.
What’s Driving Air France Back to Riyadh?
Recently, Riyadh seems to be eyeing a grand transformation into a prime destination. The city is pulling out all the stops, enticing airlines under the SkyTeam umbrella to bring more flights to its doorstep. Everybody’s jumping on the bandwagon—Virgin Atlantic, Delta, and now Air France. It’s fascinating to see what kind of intriguing incentives might be luring these carriers. Even if Riyadh is a prosperous market, this level of rapid expansion hints at a bigger picture.
Inside scoop on strategy: Air France’s whole approach to the Middle East has been shifting gears. Just in 2023, they inked a fresh deal with Etihad, planning seamless exchanges at hubs in Europe and Abu Dhabi—but in familiar turbulent airline fashion, their enthusiasm fizzled out. The Paris to Abu Dhabi flights were cut after just a year. It’s as if Air France is eyeing a closer relationship with Riyadh Air, as it turns away from deepening ties with Etihad. But hold your horses; Riyadh Air hasn’t even gotten its wings off the ground yet.
Bottom Line
Come May 2025, Air France will reintroduce its flights from Paris to Riyadh. More than just a catchy headline, this return signifies the airline’s renewed focus on Saudi Arabia. As airlines flock to Riyadh like bees to honey, don’t be surprised if a Riyadh Air partnership is announced next, following the footsteps of Delta and Virgin Atlantic.
Any thoughts on Air France’s Riyadh route revival?
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