Delta Air Lines CEO has launched a new flight route he claims will be America's favorite, in spite of controversy
Published on Oct 29, 2025 at 6:50 AM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Oct 29, 2025 at 6:50 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Delta Air Lines is the first American airline to offer a direct connection from the US to Saudi Arabia.
When the new route was announced, some people raised their eyebrows.
But the CEO says this is a popular route, and it’ll be even more popular in the future.
And numbers prove he’s right.
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Why Delta Air Lines is now flying to Saudi Arabia
Delta Air Lines recently announced a new nonstop flight to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital city, as well as the country’s most important financial hub.
The flight will start from Delta’s Atlanta hub, taking off three times a week from October 2026.
Not everyone welcomed the news with a smile, but the American airline CEO believes this is the right move.
And numbers seem to agree with him.
Last year, around 700,000 American travelers visited Saudi Arabia, and that number has been growing consistently for at least a decade.
Time will tell because one of two things will happen.
Either people will use it, in which case we’ll probably have more direct flights from the US to Riyadh, or they won’t, in which case it’ll be discontinued quite quickly.
Airlines don’t need begging when it comes to axing unprofitable routes.
Does Saudi Arabia want to be the ‘new’ Dubai?
Some people are calling Saudi Arabia the ‘new’ Dubai.
One is a country and the other is a city, but the comparison stems from Saudi Arabia’s attempt to take a couple of leaves out of the United Arab Emirates’ book.
Both are using the considerable revenue they earn from selling natural resources like oil to turn themselves into a major tourist destination, as well as a financial hub.
And it’s working.
Saudi Arabia is also doing something else because it’s using soccer as a marketing tool, so to speak.
Famously, former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo was the first player to sign up to a lucrative contract there.
But then several other players followed, from Karim Benzema to ex-Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
