Delta Air Lines is two months away from launching nonstop flights between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The service begins October 23, 2026. It will be Delta’s first nonstop route to Saudi Arabia and the first nonstop connection between Riyadh and the U.S. operated by a U.S. airline.
Delta Atlanta-Riyadh Flight Schedule
Delta will operate the route daily from October 23 through October 30. After that, flights will run three times a week. The airline will use an Airbus A350-900.
- DL318: Atlanta to Riyadh — Departs 11:50 p.m., arrives 7:45 p.m. next day.
- DL317: Riyadh to Atlanta — Departs 11:30 p.m., arrives 7:37 a.m. next day.
Both flights are scheduled overnight. The Atlanta-Riyadh sector takes about 12 hours and 55 minutes. The return flight is much longer, with a scheduled block time of 15 hours and 7 minutes. That makes the westbound service one of Delta’s longest flights.
Airbus A350-900 to Operate the Route
Delta will deploy its long-range Airbus A350-900 on the service. The aircraft will feature four cabin options:
- Delta One
- Delta Premium Select
- Delta Comfort
- Delta Main
Delta’s 275-seat configuration includes 40 Delta One seats, 40 Premium Select seats, 36 Delta Comfort seats and 159 Main Cabin seats. Passengers will also have access to Delta Studio entertainment and free Delta Sync Wi-Fi for SkyMiles members where available. Halal meal options will be available for advance selection.
Delta Cuts SkyMiles Award Prices
Delta recently introduced a SkyMiles promotion for the new service. Round-trip economy awards are available from 30,000 SkyMiles plus $77 in taxes and fees on eligible dates. The promotion applies to travel from October 23, 2026, through April 15, 2027. The deal is available not only to travelers in Atlanta. Passengers from several U.S. cities can connect through Delta’s Atlanta hub. The promotion could help Delta generate additional demand before the route begins.
Delta’s Edge Over Middle Eastern Carriers
Delta Air Lines will enter a market dominated by Middle Eastern carriers. Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad already connect major U.S. cities with their hubs in Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Saudia also operates between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. Delta’s advantage is its domestic network. Atlanta is one of the airline’s largest hubs. Delta can use connecting traffic from across the U.S. to fill seats on the Riyadh flight. That will be important because the airline is operating an A350 on a route with a long flight time and a relatively limited nonstop market.
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