Riyadh Air, the Kingdom’s new national carrier, has made its official entry into the global air freight market with the launch of its “Riyadh Cargo” brand. It has also activated belly-hold cargo operations across its fleet of more than 120 on-order wide-body aircraft to transport goods efficiently and reliably across global markets.
Through “Riyadh Cargo,” the venture has taken its first step in its plan of building an integrated and scalable cargo business, starting from its headquarters in Riyadh. The airline has been steadily expanding its network of destinations and operational activities, which began with trial flights under the “Road to Takeoff” strategy, connecting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with London’s Heathrow Airport.
“Riyadh Cargo has demonstrated strong operational momentum on the Riyadh–London route, successfully transporting substantial volumes of goods, including textiles, fresh flowers, fish, as well as tea and coffee. This underscores its capability to handle time-sensitive shipments, perishable goods, and high-value cargo with reliability,” reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Pravin Singh, global head of cargo at Riyadh Air, told the news agency, “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. 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.”
Digital capabilities remain a central element of Riyadh Cargo’s ecosystem, as it has adopted advanced technological systems for the centralised management and control of air waybills, apart from enhancing operational data clarity. This now supports faster decision-making, improved operational efficiency and consistently high service levels as the business keeps on growing.
Riyadh Cargo, in line with its digital strategy, has partnered with CHAMPS to deploy the “CargoSpot Neo” system to manage cargo and terminal operations. The platform enables broader operational control, enhanced data visibility and faster responses to operational requirements, supporting service reliability as cargo volumes and network complexity keep on increasing.
“The company has further enhanced its operations by investing in unit load devices equipped with advanced digital tracking technologies, in collaboration with Unilode. This enables real-time cargo monitoring and highly accurate inventory management, ensuring a more sustainable workflow. Riyadh Cargo’s operational flexibility supports resilience even amid logistical disruptions across its global network,” SPA noted.
On the ground, cargo handling services are being managed in cooperation with SATS Saudi Arabia at the Kingdom’s three main airports: King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. Operations are supported through modern facilities and specialised handling areas to ensure real-time oversight and seamless logistical integration.