Delta’s Big Step: First Direct U.S. Flight to Riyadh

Delta Air Lines plans a nonstop flight from Atlanta to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This route will be the first by an American airline to the Saudi capital. It kicks off on October 23, 2026, and people on both sides of the Atlantic have good reason to feel excited about it. Momentum built in late October 2025. By mid-December, Delta confirmed the launch date and opened ticket sales. Interest surged from business and adventure travelers. The route spans over 7,000 miles, ranking among Delta’s longest. Flight Times and Setup Picture departing Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson, the world’s busiest airport, and arriving at Riyadh’s King Khalid International the next evening. Flight DL318 leaves Atlanta at 10:30 p.m. and lands in Riyadh