In late 2025, Delta announced plans to launch nonstop flights between Atlanta (ATL) and Riyadh (RUH), with Delta CEO Ed Bastian recently claiming that Saudi Arabia is one of his favorite places that he has been in a very long time. The airline is partnering with Riyadh Air, but beyond that, the company is obviously chasing subsidies, given that Saudi Arabia is paying airlines to fly to Riyadh.
A couple of weeks ago, I posed the question of whether Delta would actually launch this service in a matter of months, since everything pointed to these flights being very empty, and having virtually no bookings. That’s why I think it’s interesting to note that Delta is finally trying to incentivize people to take this flight, with some insane SkyMiles deals… if you’re willing to fly economy.
In this post:
Want a cheap ticket to Atlanta? Book a flight to Riyadh!
Delta has put out a press release about how interesting Saudi Arabia is, also promoting a SkyMiles award sale for flights to Riyadh. As of late, it’s not unusual to see Delta have SkyMiles award sales, but this seems to be one of the most aggressively priced ones that we’ve ever seen.
For example, Delta is charging just 15,000 SkyMiles for a one-way ticket from New York to Riyadh via Atlanta. If you have a co-branded SkyMiles credit card you get an additional 15% discount, bringing the cost down to 12,700 miles.
Here’s what’s hilarious — if you were to just redeem miles for the same flight from New York to Atlanta, you’d pay nearly double as much compared to flying all the way to Saudi Arabia.
So I’m by no means encouraging hidden city ticketing, given the potential consequences (and also keep in mind that you need a visa for Saudi Arabia), but I’m sharing this more for demonstrative purposes. It’s not unusual to see a ticket be cheaper when you connect vs. fly nonstop, but typically the segment you’re “throwing away” isn’t a 13+ hour flight.
Interestingly, despite nearly empty cabins, Delta One still isn’t on sale with SkyMiles on a vast majority of dates, so obviously Delta is still hoping to generate some revenue in the forward cabin.
I’m curious to see how this service plays out…
As I’ve stated before, I’m very curious to see how this service plays out:
- I’m confident that this route will have very low load factors for quite some time, since it takes time to build up demand like this
- Saudi Arabia is largely footing the bill for new service, though I don’t know to what extent that’s the case; can Delta fly planes basically empty and break even, or just how much are the incentives?
- I understand the long term strategic goal of funneling passengers throughout the region in partnership with Riyadh Air, but it’ll also take Riyadh Air some time to build up its network; for that matter, I know many Delta flyers like their booze, so I’m curious what their willingness is to connect through Riyadh when traveling elsewhere, even though Riyadh Air has a great inflight product
I have to imagine that Delta will follow through on launching this service as of late October, simply from the perspective of saving face with the country and partner Riyadh Air, if nothing else. But who knows how this all plays out in the long run…
Bottom line
A couple of weeks ago I covered how Delta’s upcoming flights between Atlanta and Riyadh seemed to be basically empty, ahead of the late October launch. Delta has now launched a SkyMiles award sale for the new route, and it has among the most attractive prices we’ve seen.
You can fly one-way to Saudi Arabia for just 12,700 SkyMiles if you have a co-branded credit card. If you’re originating in New York, you’ll pay about half as much to fly from New York to Atlanta to Riyadh as you would to just fly to Atlanta.
It’s not surprising to see Delta incentivizing people to take this flight at any cost, though I’m curious for how long the airline can sustain really low loads.
What do you make of this SkyMiles award sale to Riyadh?
Not sure how much connecting traffic Riyadh Air is able to generate with its fairly limited network. Skyteam partner Saudia (SV) has a much bigger network and would probably feed more traffic.
Clearly flyers are booking away due to no Starlink. SAD!
From the Bay Area it looks like Comfort+(55K miles) is 40K miles cheaper than main cabin
Does anyone know if my camel would qualify as a service animal?
Camel? No, sorry, too big.
Falcon. Yes. *screech!!!!*
You mentioned teaming up with Riyadh Air several times, yet isnt Saudia a SkyTeam member? Why would DL team up with Saudias competition also Riyadh Air isnt even listed as an airline earning partner on DLs site
*Ed receiving a dump truck filled gold bars*
He could be heard saying to himself:
“SkyTeam, sky-shmeme…”
Just booked this for travel to Pakistan. Booked DL round trip from FL to RUH via ATL for 30K skymiles + $83. Then booked a separate ticket from RUH to ISB on Riyadh Air for $400 r/t.
Also, Riyadh Air is launching service to Pakistan next week! Found this out when searching for this itinerary on Google flights. Can't wait to try them out!
As for my separate ticket itinerary, this is saving...
Just booked this for travel to Pakistan. Booked DL round trip from FL to RUH via ATL for 30K skymiles + $83. Then booked a separate ticket from RUH to ISB on Riyadh Air for $400 r/t.
Also, Riyadh Air is launching service to Pakistan next week! Found this out when searching for this itinerary on Google flights. Can't wait to try them out!
As for my separate ticket itinerary, this is saving me a few hundred dollars since round-trip fares from my home airport are currently $1,300 in Y on my dates (vs $483 + 30K skymiles).
Solid deal as one-way from FL was 27500 and you could get multiple seats to yourself. Did you find out if visa will be required (for USC) if connecting on 2 separate tickets?
@Trey - if you book round-trip, your costs each way will be less than booking two one-ways. I also looked at one-way only and it was around the same price with miles (27K-ish) while round trip was 30K all in.
I don't know about the visa. I already have a valid KSA visa so I don't know.
Hahahahahahahahahahahah!
You couldn't pay me to fly to Saudi Arabia even in non-war times.
I won't.
A few weeks ago when Ben wrote an article about this Delta Riyadh flight, I looked up economy class awards and the miles required was insane, like trying to fly LHR or CDG. Seems like a complete turnaround if it is 15,000 miles.
I just burned all my DL Skymiles except maybe 8,000 miles but if they have a 8,000 mile round trip award, I would fly it. I have seen awards in the winter within the US for that low.
With load so bad, its likely that 15k gets you a full row to yourself in Y, aka poor mans biz class.
On another site, a seat map was brought up for one of those flights, and someone booked middle seat, middle section, bulkhead in Y. Someone inquired about that, and I said that it was a smart move. First of all, poor man's business class, like you said. Second, the middle seat occupied is a disincentive for people to book either of the aisle seats, especially when they're spoiled for choice. It's pretty much assured that...
On another site, a seat map was brought up for one of those flights, and someone booked middle seat, middle section, bulkhead in Y. Someone inquired about that, and I said that it was a smart move. First of all, poor man's business class, like you said. Second, the middle seat occupied is a disincentive for people to book either of the aisle seats, especially when they're spoiled for choice. It's pretty much assured that this guy has all three seats to himself/herself. I did that myself on a lightly-occupied Y award ticket SFO-BNE. Only time I ever got a good night's sleep on a plane.
Only problem is that often bulkhead doesn’t have arm rests that lift up. Mind you you can use the row behind to sleep. It’s like having sq or similar make up the bed across the aisle for sleeping !!
Probably a parent traveling with infant, as Y center bulkhead is the only area that can accommodate a bassinette.
D1 flights are reasonably cheap ex-WAS.
With the 15% discount it's 125k BWI/DCA-ATL-RUH on 11/11
Yeah it reminds me the DL late-COVID promo where they flew widebodies to Anchorage with fares as low as 9K SkyMiles.
My wife wouldn't go then but did a buddy hiking trip. Unfortunately even with the deal, he nor I, were interested in flying to the Middle East at the moment...
Might be time to book a trip or trips to Riyah. 1990, you going?
Woah, what’s up with the “⅕”?
They’d need to pay me…
I wonder how many DL employees will try to non-rev on this flight too. Seems like they love to give away the forward cabin for free to their employees and families, rather than offer decent upgrade prices to paying customers.
Looked into it as a cheaper way to reach India (by purchasing separate ticket for rest of way), but the return flights on Delta still expensive, minimum 92k Delta miles for economy!
book as roundtrip; much cheaper than 2 one-ways on delta
Remembering that airlines managed to offset a lot of empty flights with cargo during the pandemic, and given the current straits closures, I would imagine that a fair amount of the loss on the passenger side of this flight is being made up for with astronomic cargo prices, and I'm sure the SA governments subsidies are helping to fill in the remaining bits :) it's not always about bums in seats folks!
That would make sense if Qatar and Emirates were not flying normal schedules....
Yes, Delta is filling the empty seats with barrels of crude oil.
They are sure being the best at being Ultra-Premium Revenue Managers on the 5th floor of the Admin Building on Virginia Avenue!
DL did manage to generate twice the profits of its nearest competitor in the last reported quarter - almost 2/3 of the US industry's profits - and could well generate 50% more than that carrier for all of 2026 which was what happened last year.
Tim, the profits came from the credit card deals, not from flying. Without the AMEX relationship DL would not be in the financial situation it finds itself in relative to the other carriers.
and every airline has credit card deals so if DL managed to figure out the best credit card deals, then they clearly are able to do things w/ flying that other airlines cannot do.
DL also got a significant benefit from the refinery - something that another competitor tried to do but could not pull off.
and specific to this flight, DL could well have a stronger relationship with RX than any other US airline...
and every airline has credit card deals so if DL managed to figure out the best credit card deals, then they clearly are able to do things w/ flying that other airlines cannot do.
DL also got a significant benefit from the refinery - something that another competitor tried to do but could not pull off.
and specific to this flight, DL could well have a stronger relationship with RX than any other US airline has w/ any ME carrier. For now, Saudi Arabia is willing to subsidize air service but clearly not for an unlimited amount of time and for an unlimited amount of money.
Yes but to continue to imply that DL is making more money from flights. They are doing better not nearly as well as you would have us believe.
Impressive. Delta has a stronger relationship with Riyahd Air, which operates 20 flights a day to 8 destinations. That's more important than AA partnering with QR or UA partnering with EK.
Parker,
I didn't imply that DL makes its money just from flights.
and it really doesn't matter where it comes from because all of the airlines have the same business model - and those that didn't have a legacy model are moving to it.
The only real difference is that DL has the refinery which has paid off this year - and likely will again because crack spreads even for gasoline are much...
Parker,
I didn't imply that DL makes its money just from flights.
and it really doesn't matter where it comes from because all of the airlines have the same business model - and those that didn't have a legacy model are moving to it.
The only real difference is that DL has the refinery which has paid off this year - and likely will again because crack spreads even for gasoline are much higher than in the past.
and DL makes alot of money from Delta Tech Ops that AA or UA could be making but don't - mostly because DL's non-union maintenance workforce allows DL to do stuff that unions wouldn't allow.
and Anthony, AA and UA aren't even flying to DXB or DOH and AA has pulled its DOH flights.
and it is doubtful that any of the ME3 will ever have a joint venture w/ a US airline just because they don't want to share from their much larger network. DL and RX could well have a JV; DL might also end up with a JV w/ LY as well.
but for now just operating to the Middle East will be a DL distinctive at least as of Nov 1
This route will surely be canned within six months from launch date.
ah the first Delta article of the "Yowzers" era. Enjoy everyone!
Premium Select and D1 are much cheaper (Premium sometimes much cheaper than Main Cabin) booking ATL-RUH direct.
yes, Saudi Arabia is bankrolling this and other new flights. Riyadh Air has just started carrying passengers on its own aircraft.
there are deep discounts on all cabins on the ME3; DL believes that premium cabin demand will come later or it would be discounting them.
DL certainly knows what it has to do to access the money and be there for the long term.
This flight is still set to be the only...
yes, Saudi Arabia is bankrolling this and other new flights. Riyadh Air has just started carrying passengers on its own aircraft.
there are deep discounts on all cabins on the ME3; DL believes that premium cabin demand will come later or it would be discounting them.
DL certainly knows what it has to do to access the money and be there for the long term.
This flight is still set to be the only US carrier flight operating to the Middle East at the time it is scheduled to start.
You're just flat out lying now. United is flying to TLV and DXB in October.
Curious Tim, why does UA have flight scheduled more than 6 weeks before this flight starts (I see 2 flights daily to TLV from EWR from Sep 8), Even DL is flying JFK to TLV from that week (they start a day earlier but only one daily...). So how on earth is this the only US carrier flying to the ME? How did you not know this? You are in the red team? Please explain your logic.
Failed analyst strikes again. Yowzers!
Even with the subsidy... let's see whether or not there is a new member of the Abraham Accords by a week or two before this flight is supposed to launch. Not that this flight is the key to global peace or anything, but it's a nice silver lining prestige thing when "the most premium" US airline flies to your country.
They aren't lowering those Delta One prices so I'm curious how full up front will be.
For real. If they dropped those to 80K, then I’d have to say, “Yowzers!!”
The airlines are just being subsidized to fly there, they wont care if the flights are empty.
Just letting riyadh air operate the flight isnt the point as if only the local carrier flies there, it doesnt make ppl want to book, but when they see all of their domestic carriers as options it legitimizes the other.
I'm sure this flight is subsidized in some form and will also have mostly premium cabin demand. Convincing the customers that typically buy main cabin to fly anywhere near the middle east right now is going to be challenging.
The same can be said for much of its LAX TPAC routes.
Based on what? Numbers that you don't have?
Maybe the most premium passengers on earth have already paid the most premium fares on earth to NOT take this flight so the true premium essence of DL is never disturbed by mere mortals during such premium flights.
Where is our Delta poster boy? I can't wait for him to explain how amazing this flight is for delta.
I can't see this become a sustainable route, they should let Riyadh Air fly to ATL instead
i wonder if it's testing the waters for a broader sale across cabins. i feel like delta did the same with their weaker TPAC routes (which is how i'm in Asia on an 85k DL1 award right now) - persistent sales on Y, followed later by a few rounds of wide-open premium cabin availability. 15k for Y before the card discount is already bonkers though.