Saudia’s Tokyo Debut Slips Again, and You Can’t Book Until January

Saudia’s new Riyadh-Tokyo route has been pushed back again. The Saudi flag carrier had planned to begin three weekly flights to Tokyo Narita on December 1, but now intends to launch on January 19, 2027 at the latest, because reservations are not available for any flights up to January 16.

According to AeroRoutes, which tracks airline schedule filings, further changes remain highly possible. That caution matters for travelers: a route that is in the system but not yet bookable can slide again, so tickets should not be treated as certain until the airline opens sales for specific dates.

The planned schedule uses flight numbers SV824 and SV825 on a Boeing 787-9 operating on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. SV824 is filed to depart Riyadh at 01:00 and arrive in Narita at 17:25, with SV825 returning from Narita at 21:30 and landing in Riyadh at 05:25 the next day.

The delay comes as Saudi aviation faces a turbulent autumn, with many foreign carriers still suspending Riyadh service. If it does launch in January, the route would give Japan-bound travelers a new option connecting through the Saudi capital to the wider Middle East and Africa network.

Sources: AeroRoutes