Last week, Saudi low-cost carrier Flynas launched nonstop service between Riyadh and Nairobi, with the inaugural flight touching down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the early hours of Friday, October 3. The new link opens a direct corridor between Kenya’s capital and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, trimming travel time for passengers who previously relied on one-stop itineraries.
The route starts with three flights a week operated by Airbus A320neo aircraft, a capacity boost aimed at business, leisure, and religious travel. Flynas has positioned the service as part of its wider Africa growth strategy and Saudi Arabia’s push to expand international connectivity from Riyadh.
Published schedules set departures from Riyadh at 22:00 every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, arriving in Nairobi at 03:10 the following day. Returns leave Nairobi at 04:00 on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, touching down in Riyadh at 09:00. Industry notices from Kenyan travel bodies mirrored those timings in the run-up to launch.
Aviation watchers have framed the new link as a practical win for trade and tourism in both directions. Direct connectivity is expected to support Kenya’s exports of tea, coffee, flowers, and fresh produce into the Gulf, while simplifying inbound travel for Saudi visitors and investors. It also complements Kenya’s efforts to deepen air links to key markets and aligns with Saudi strategies to widen the kingdom’s global network.
The Kenya Association of Travel Agents and other trade stakeholders amplified the details to the market, noting that steady, point-to-point service typically improves reliability for time-sensitive movements, including meetings, travel, and perishables. Inaugural-week posts from airport authorities and the airline underscored the arrival on October 3 and the start of scheduled operations.
Flynas first announced the route in August with three weekly frequencies and A320neo equipment. Trade bulletins subsequently reiterated the schedule pairings and the focus on strengthening flows for tourism, commerce, and pilgrimage. With the inaugural landing complete, attention now turns to load factors, schedule performance, and how quickly the service can stimulate two-way traffic during the northern-winter season.
At a glance: three flights weekly between Riyadh and Nairobi on A320neo aircraft, RUH departures at 22:00 every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday arriving NBO at 03:10 the next day, NBO departures at 04:00 every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday arriving RUH at 09:00.