Saudia Cargo launches new Riyadh-Melbourne route

Dhaka: Saudia Cargo, the dedicated cargo division of Saudi Arabian national carrier Saudia, has launched a new scheduled service connecting Riyadh and the southeastern Australian city of Melbourne on July 25, marking the airline's latest network expansion and establishing a direct air link between the two countries.

In an official announcement, the air freight carrier said it is operating the Boeing 747-400 freighter on the route, offering a cargo capacity of more than 100 tons along with nose-loading capability for oversized and heavy shipments.

The new route responds to growing market demand and aims to strengthen supply chains between the Middle East and Australia while widening access for Saudi exports.

The launch also reflects coordination between Saudia Cargo, the General Authority for Foreign Trade (GAFT), and the Saudi Export Development Authority (Saudi Exports), as part of broader efforts to support the Kingdom's trade ambitions.

The route will handle a range of cargo types in both directions, including perishables, pharmaceuticals, industrial equipment, and e-commerce shipments.

Saudia Cargo said it is also working with the Saudi-Australian Business Council to connect with local logistics partners, aiming to improve transit times and offer more efficient transport options between the two markets.

The airline reported transporting more than 570,000 tons of cargo across its global network last year.

The Melbourne launch comes alongside fleet expansion plans, including a recent agreement to acquire four Boeing 777-200 freighters, which will significantly add capacity to the carrier's dedicated cargo fleet and support its expanding footprint in global markets.