“Americans aren’t quite sure” about visiting, Bastian said frankly, citing a history of tension between the countries on religious, political, and cultural grounds. But he said that when you come to Saudi Arabia, you see “just an amazing display” of different tourism opportunities and experiences, and stressed that “the people” are truly special, highlighting an “embracing” culture of warm hospitality and authenticity. He added that people have been “amazed” when he tells them that Riyadh is actually one of the favorite places he’s visited in a “very long time,” but he’s willing to be patient.
“It’ll start slow,” Bastian said, noting that it’s the first U.S. airline to have direct service, “but I believe it’s going to gain popularity.” Underlining Bastian’s remarks is the simple fact that Saudi Arabia has just not been easy to visit, a fact that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud has been working to change with his sweeping Vision 2030 plan to shift the country away from oil dependence and toward tourism, investment, and technology.
Delta’s new route will connect Atlanta, its largest international gateway, directly to King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh. Before this partnership, no U.S. carrier had offered direct service to Saudi Arabia. American and United previously served Jeddah and Riyadh years ago through connections in Europe or joint ventures, but none maintained consistent direct operations.
