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From restoring popular routes to launching new services like the basic business class, Delta Air Lines continues to evolve. Part of the carrier’s vision is to evolve globally as well. That goal continues to be worked on, with new flights around the world. Last year, Delta CEO Ed Bastian spoke fondly about a certain new flight to the Middle East, and its importance for business travelers.

Fast-forward to the following year, and the flight is almost set to depart with the inaugural service. However, there’s a sense that the flight won’t depart after all, given the staggering number of tickets sold thus far.

Delta Air Lines Announced Its First Nonstop Flight To Riyadh, Saudi Arabia In Late October

Back in October of last year, Delta Air Lines announced it was starting its first nonstop flights to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The announcement was made a year in advance.

Delta’s CEO spoke enthusiastically about the new flight and its potential.

“When you’re on the ground here in Riyadh and you see the vibrancy, you see the development, you see the growth in this marketplace, I think it’s going to be a great route,” Bastian said.

The flight from Atlanta to Riyadh was meant to strengthen the “growing flow of commerce and investment between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia and support long-term economic collaboration across the region,” according to Delta.

Bastian added that the route was a key move for Delta in its global vision, particularly in the Middle East.

“Launching service to Riyadh marks a key step in Delta’s global growth as we start our second century of flight.”

The flight was set to operate three times weekly, with service launching on October 23, 2026. For the first week, the flight will be operating daily.

Delta’s Service Breakdown For Flights To Riyadh

Despite Bastian and Delta’s enthusiasm for the flight, the excitement has yet to resonate with the customers who matter most. With the flight set to depart from Atlanta in just three months, bookings remain alarmingly slow.

Delta Air Lines May Be Forced To Delay The Route Due To Ticket Sales

In a post on Enilria, user Matt points out that Delta’s new flight to Riyadh has sold just five tickets. Matt noted that at this point, long-haul flights are typically 50–60% booked.

“Delta recently said that 90 days out they are typically 50-60% booked on long haul. Yet, about a week after the late October planned start of Atlanta (ATL) – RUH there appears to be just FIVE seats sold on this early November (11/4) flight, YIKES! Surely this isn’t going to really start.”

A deeper look by One Mile At A Time reveals that there are currently eight assigned seats on the first eight non-inaugural flights, a low average of one seat per flight. Although it can be argued that seat maps aren’t always accurate, they do give a clear sense of how full a flight is. A new debate has emerged, questioning if Delta will fly an empty plane to Riyadh, or decide to postpone the flight launch. At this point, travelers have different opinions.

Reactions Are Mixed Regarding The Future Of Delta’s Flight To Riyadh

Online, reactions have been mixed. There are some who feel as though Delta still isn’t worried about the turnout, given the higher costs of seating for the flight.

“They don’t seem to be too worried because they’re still charging $15K for delta one,” one traveler shared on Reddit.

Others couldn’t get past the low figures, especially in comparison to how full flights typically are at this stage, 90 days prior.

“For context: typically 50-60% of seats are booked 90 days before departure. This is less than 1%.”

The low turnout could also be the result of Delta setting up the flight from the wrong hub. Although Delta’s major hub is Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, and the move makes total sense for the carrier, there is a belief that the same flight from Houston or Dallas would draw more turnout, given the business connection to the Middle East from those U.S. cities.

“Houston or Dallas is the hub people flying out to ME want,” a traveler commented.

It remains to be seen whether booking trends will change drastically for Delta’s new flight in the next three months. If things stay the same, Delta may postpone the flight and avoid the hassle of flying an empty plane all the way to the Middle East on a flight of between 13 and 15 hours.