Saudia Cargo has launched a weekly Riyadh-Melbourne route using a Boeing 747-400 freighter, catering to diverse cargo demands.
Saudia Cargo has begun operating a scheduled weekly route between Riyadh and Melbourne, utilizing a Boeing 747-400 freighter, as reported by London's Air Cargo Week.
The service commenced on 25 July and is designed to meet demand in both directions for perishables, pharmaceuticals, industrial equipment, and e-commerce goods. The aircraft offers a capacity of more than 110 tons and features nose-loading capabilities for oversized shipments.
The Riyadh-Melbourne route is part of Saudia Cargo's international expansion strategy and follows its recent purchase agreement for four Boeing 777-200 freighters, which are due for delivery starting in the fourth quarter of this year.
Saudia Cargo's fleet currently includes four 777Fs and four 747-400Fs, two of which are passenger-to-freighter conversions, according to data from Planespotters.
Additionally, the carrier leased two Airbus A330-300Fs from ASL Aviation last year, both of which are scheduled for delivery in early 2026.
In the previous year, Saudia Cargo transported more than 570,000 tonnes of cargo across approximately 4,000 flights. However, volumes experienced a slight dip of 0.8 percent, totaling 573,000 tonnes. According to IATA, Middle Eastern airlines lagged behind the overall market growth of 3.4 percent, posting a modest increase of 0.3 percent.
