{"id":138728,"date":"2026-04-06T09:09:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T03:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=138728"},"modified":"2026-04-06T02:29:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T20:59:46","slug":"singapore-airlines-delays-launch-of-riyadh-flights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/06\/singapore-airlines-delays-launch-of-riyadh-flights\/","title":{"rendered":"Singapore Airlines Delays Launch of New Flights to This City"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>SINGAPORE\u2014<\/strong> One of the World&#8217;s best carriers, <a href=\"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/tag\/singapore-airlines\/\">Singapore Airlines (SQ)<\/a>, has postponed the relaunch of its Riyadh (RUH) service by three months, pushing the start date from 2nd June 2026 to 1st September 2026. The delay is attributed to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The airline had previously restricted Riyadh bookings to only the most expensive fare classes through August 2026, signaling a likely September start. That plan is now officially confirmed and is reported by <a href=\"https:\/\/mainlymiles.com\/2026\/04\/03\/singapore-airlines-pushes-back-riyadh-restart-to-september-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Mainly Miles<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ltpie7gm-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-900\" class=\"wp-image-135314\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ltpie7gm-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ltpie7gm-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ltpie7gm-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ltpie7gm-1536x864.webp 1536w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ltpie7gm-150x84.webp 150w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ltpie7gm-450x253.webp 450w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ltpie7gm-1200x675.webp 1200w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ltpie7gm.webp 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: Cl\u00e9ment Alloing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-singapore-airlines-delays-riyadh-launch\">Singapore Airlines Delays Riyadh Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Singapore Airlines (SQ) originally announced the return of its Riyadh flights in February 2026, marking its first service to the Saudi capital in 12 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The route was set to launch on 2nd June 2026 from <a href=\"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?s=Changi\">Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)<\/a> to King Khalid International Airport (RUH), but the Middle East conflict has forced a delay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The operational plan for the route remains unchanged. SQ will operate four-times weekly non-stop flights using the <a href=\"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?s=A350\">Airbus A350 Medium Haul<\/a>, configured with 40 Business Class seats and 263 Economy Class seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Flights will operate as SQ498 (Singapore to Riyadh) and SQ499 (Riyadh to Singapore).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Revised Schedule (1 Sep 2026 \u2013 24 Oct 2026)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>SQ498: Departs Singapore (SIN) at 18:20, arrives Riyadh (RUH) at 21:45 (Duration: 8h 25m)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SQ499: Departs Riyadh (RUH) at 23:00, arrives Singapore (SIN) at 12:15 the next day (Duration: 8h 15m)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>From 25th October 2026, timings shift slightly for the winter season, with departures from Singapore (SIN) at 17:40 and from Riyadh (RUH) at 22:50. The four-day weekly schedule continues year-round through to March 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Singapore_Airlines_Boeing_777-300_SYD_Li_Pang-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"Singapore Airlines Boeing 777\" class=\"wp-image-82509\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Singapore_Airlines_Boeing_777-300_SYD_Li_Pang-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Singapore_Airlines_Boeing_777-300_SYD_Li_Pang-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Singapore_Airlines_Boeing_777-300_SYD_Li_Pang-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Singapore_Airlines_Boeing_777-300_SYD_Li_Pang-50x28.webp 50w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Singapore_Airlines_Boeing_777-300_SYD_Li_Pang-150x84.webp 150w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Singapore_Airlines_Boeing_777-300_SYD_Li_Pang-450x253.webp 450w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Singapore_Airlines_Boeing_777-300_SYD_Li_Pang.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: By Li Pang &#8211; http:\/\/www.airliners.net\/photo\/Singapore-Airlines\/Boeing-777-312\/2035227\/L\/, CC BY-SA 3.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=18038413<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-impact-on-dubai-service-and-middle-east-operations\">Impact on Dubai Service and Middle East Operations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Riyadh delay is not an isolated decision. Singapore Airlines (SQ) has also extended the suspension of its Dubai route until at least 1st June 2026, while downgrading the aircraft from an Airbus A380 to a <a href=\"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?s=777\">Boeing 777-300ER<\/a> for the summer season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both decisions reflect the same geopolitical concerns affecting the carrier&#8217;s Middle East network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Effectively, SQ&#8217;s Middle East operations are on hold for now, though the airline continues to retain both the Dubai and Riyadh routes in its longer-term network plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/singapore-airlines-long-haul-bus-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-110919\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/singapore-airlines-long-haul-bus-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/singapore-airlines-long-haul-bus-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/singapore-airlines-long-haul-bus-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/singapore-airlines-long-haul-bus-50x28.webp 50w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/singapore-airlines-long-haul-bus-1536x864.webp 1536w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/singapore-airlines-long-haul-bus-150x84.webp 150w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/singapore-airlines-long-haul-bus-450x253.webp 450w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/singapore-airlines-long-haul-bus-1200x675.webp 1200w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/singapore-airlines-long-haul-bus.webp 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: Singapore Airlines<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-krisflyer-award-availability-and-redemption-rates\">KrisFlyer Award Availability and Redemption Rates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Passengers redeeming KrisFlyer miles for the <a href=\"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?s=Riyadh\">Riyadh route<\/a> will find that award availability remains generous from the revised 1st September 2026 start date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Searches for four passengers in Business Class show four immediately confirmable Saver award seats loaded on most flights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All June through August flights have been removed from the booking system, including KrisFlyer award inventory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Passengers who had already redeemed miles or purchased cash tickets for travel during this period can expect rebooking or refund options from the airline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One-way KrisFlyer redemption rates for the Singapore (SIN) to Riyadh (RUH) route (Zone 10) are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Economy Class<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Saver: 32,000 miles<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Advantage: 66,500 miles<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Access: 95,500 miles<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Business Class<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Saver: 68,000 miles<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Advantage: 122,000 miles<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Access: 157,500 to 251,500 miles<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Taxes and fees amount to S$68 in the Singapore-to-Riyadh direction and approximately S$58 (SAR 173) on the return. Notably, Singapore Airlines (SQ) offers the only KrisFlyer award option within its group to and from Saudi Arabia, as Scoot excludes its Jeddah service from redemptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Singapore-Airlines-at-Changi-Airport-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-90551\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Singapore-Airlines-at-Changi-Airport-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Singapore-Airlines-at-Changi-Airport-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Singapore-Airlines-at-Changi-Airport-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Singapore-Airlines-at-Changi-Airport-50x28.webp 50w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Singapore-Airlines-at-Changi-Airport-1600x900.webp 1600w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Singapore-Airlines-at-Changi-Airport-1536x864.webp 1536w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Singapore-Airlines-at-Changi-Airport-150x84.webp 150w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Singapore-Airlines-at-Changi-Airport-450x253.webp 450w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Singapore-Airlines-at-Changi-Airport-1200x675.webp 1200w, https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Singapore-Airlines-at-Changi-Airport.webp 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: Singapore Changi Airport<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-saf-levy-update\">SAF Levy Update<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Singapore&#8217;s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) levy timeline has also been revised. The levy will now apply to redemptions made on or after 1st October 2026, for travel on or after 1st January 2027, six months later than originally planned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This adds S$25.60 in Business Class and S$6.40 in Economy Class for the Singapore (SIN) to Riyadh (RUH) direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Join us on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/t.me\/s\/aviationa2z\" rel=\"nofollow\">Telegram Group\u00a0<\/a>for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMPLdrgsw_-jGAw?hl=en-IN&amp;gl=IN&amp;ceid=IN%3Aen\">Google News<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-aviation-a-2-z wp-block-embed-aviation-a-2-z\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"iwynG65Grq\"><a href=\"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/23\/singapore-airlines-to-restart-flights-to-hangzhou\/\">Singapore Airlines to Restart Flights to &#8220;Heaven on Earth&#8221; After 28 Years<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Singapore Airlines to Restart Flights to &#8220;Heaven on Earth&#8221; After 28 Years&#8221; &#8212; Aviation A2Z\" src=\"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/23\/singapore-airlines-to-restart-flights-to-hangzhou\/embed\/#?secret=KSButzz0Yl#?secret=iwynG65Grq\" data-secret=\"iwynG65Grq\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Singapore Airlines has pushed back the restart of its Riyadh service by three months to 1st September 2026, citing ongoing Middle East conflict.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":149,"featured_media":135313,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7215,6761],"tags":[1029,9218,22971,519,20410,11624,13874],"class_list":{"0":"post-138728","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-airline-news","8":"category-news","9":"tag-riyadh","10":"tag-riyadh-air-launch","11":"tag-riyadh-air-singapore-airlines-mou","12":"tag-singapore-airlines","13":"tag-singapore-airlines-flight","14":"tag-singapore-airlines-flights","15":"tag-singapore-airlines-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138728","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/149"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=138728"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138728\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":138732,"href":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138728\/revisions\/138732"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/135313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=138728"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=138728"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=138728"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}