As of 26 October 2025, Lufthansa will be resuming a non-stop flight connection between Munich and Riyadh. The airline previously suspended the connection in 2017, but the 65th anniversary of Lufthansa’s first flight to Saudi Arabia will be reviving the service.
Lufthansa has announced that the airline will start operating three weekly flights between Munich in Germany and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia starting from 26 October 2025. Three times a week, a plane will depart from Munich at 9:45 pm, landing in Riyadh at 4:50 am local time the following day. The return flight to Germany should then depart at 6:25 am and arrive in Munich at 10:25 am. The aircraft used for the connection will be the Airbus A350-900, with 293 seats spread over three classes, one of the most modern planes available at the moment, according to the airline.
On the one hand, the newly introduced flight should allow passengers to travel more easily between Germany and Saudi Arabia, with Munich being especially important for business travellers with companies such as BMW, Siemens, and Allianz being headquartered in the city. On the other hand, the schedule should also connect passengers to the global Lufthansa network via the airline’s Munich hub, thus giving them access to a broad range of international flights. Since the suspension of the service between Munich and Riyadh, the only Lufthansa connection between Germany and the Saudi capital was one operating between Frankfurt and Riyadh.
The entire Lufthansa Group will be celebrating the 65th anniversary of its first flight to Saudi Arabia in 2025. Overall, Lufthansa, Eurowings, and ITA Airways will offer their passengers a total of 22 weekly departures to Saudi Arabia, flying to Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah.
Riyadh and Munich as international tourism players
As the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since its independence in 2022, Riyadh has a population of just under eight million. The city is not only home to a growing number of museums and universities but is also scheduled to host major events over the coming years. The annual ‘Riyadh Season’, Saudi Arabia’s largest festival, will take place this winter, while the World Expo is scheduled to be organised in Riyadh in 2030, as will the FIFA Men’s World Cup in 2034.
Saudi travellers, too, will benefit from the reinstated route. Aside from Munich’s importance on the business front, the German city is also well-known for its historical landmarks and events. The city’s annual Oktoberfest, one of the largest beer festivals in the world, and the traditional Christmas markets are key attractions for international tourists. Moreover, due to its proximity to the Alps, many tourists choose Munich as a starting point to explore the mountain range.
