Delta Discounts Award Flights on Underperforming Atlanta-Riyadh Route

Delta Air Lines is facing slow bookings for its new nonstop service between Atlanta and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The route, which was announced in late 2025, is set to launch on October 23, 2026. Despite high expectations, only eight seats have been assigned across the first eight non-inaugural flights.

In an effort to boost interest, Delta is offering unusually low SkyMiles redemption rates for award flights from New York to Riyadh via Atlanta. The one-way award flights start at 15,000 SkyMiles or 12,700 SkyMiles for eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express cardholders.

The discounted pricing has sparked discussion about whether travelers are simply not interested in the destination or if current geopolitical concerns are weighing on bookings. Saudi Arabia is still developing as a leisure destination for many American travelers, and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East may be deterring some from booking trips to the region.