Wedoany.com Report on Mar 4th, Saudi Airlines plans to launch 10 new ultra-long haul routes in 2026, with the most notable being the direct flight from Jeddah to Los Angeles, which has a flight duration of up to 17 hours. Saudi Airlines operates the largest number of flights in the Middle East region, but its international route network is still expanding. Some of the new routes will be operated by Airbus A321XLR aircraft.

Saudi Airlines' ultra-long haul routes primarily focus on direct services and do not include stopover flights. The Jeddah to Los Angeles route was first launched in March 2014, initially as a Riyadh-Jeddah-Los Angeles route, which was later simplified to a direct Jeddah-Los Angeles flight. From 2014 to November 2025, this route transported a total of 568,000 round-trip passengers, with an average seat occupancy rate of 64.9%. Seat occupancy rates improved in 2024 and 2025, reaching 73.8% and 72.9%, respectively.

From January to November 2025, Saudi Airlines transported 45,992 round-trip passengers on the Los Angeles route, ranking second in passenger traffic among its North American routes. An analysis of passenger composition shows that 39% of passengers transited in Jeddah, mainly traveling to destinations such as Cairo and Riyadh; 37% were point-to-point passengers; and 22% transited in Los Angeles to other flights. With EgyptAir planning to launch a direct Cairo-Los Angeles flight in 2026, Saudi Airlines may face more intense market competition.

Saudi Airlines' ultra-long haul route expansion plan reflects its emphasis on the international market. These new routes will connect Saudi Arabia with multiple countries and regions, including the United States, China, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates, and Bangladesh, helping to enhance the airline's global competitiveness. In the future, Saudi Airlines will continue to optimize its route network to meet the travel needs of different passenger groups.