Saudia Cargo has initiated its first direct freight service between Riyadh and Melbourne, enhancing bilateral trade and expanding its footprint in the Asia-Pacific market with a Boeing 747-400 freighter capable of handling heavy and oversized cargo.
Saudia Cargo has begun a scheduled freighter service linking Riyadh with Melbourne, giving the Saudi carrier its first direct cargo connection to the Australian city and broadening its reach into the Asia-Pacific market. The route, launched on 25 July 2026, is intended to strengthen trade flows and improve supply chain links between Saudi Arabia and Australia, according to reports from Centre for Aviation and Arab News.
The operation is being flown with a Boeing 747-400 freighter carrying more than 100 tonnes, with nose-loading capability that allows the airline to move heavy machinery, outsized freight and other bulky consignments. Saudia Cargo says the service is designed to handle a mix of perishables, pharmaceuticals, industrial equipment and e-commerce shipments, offering customers additional capacity and shorter transit times.
The launch has been developed with the General Authority for Foreign Trade and the Saudi Export Development Authority, underlining Riyadh’s wider push to deepen logistics ties and diversify export markets. Saudia Cargo has also been working with the Saudi-Australian Business Council to build relationships with freight operators and commercial partners in Australia.
The new route comes after a strong year for the cargo arm of Saudia, the kingdom’s flag carrier. Industry reporting says Saudia Cargo moved more than 573,000 tonnes in 2025, operating about 4,000 flights and maintaining an on-time performance rate above 90 per cent. The company has also been expanding its fleet, after announcing plans earlier this year to add four Boeing 777-200 freighters.
Saudia Cargo, which was established in 2007 and serves a network spanning more than 225 international and 26 domestic destinations, has positioned itself as a key logistics bridge between East and West. Its latest expansion into Melbourne suggests the carrier is continuing to use that footprint to capture demand for specialised and high-value freight flows.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://www.gccbusinessnews.com/saudia-cargo-riyadh-melbourne-freighter/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://centreforaviation.com/news/saudia-cargo-commences-riyadh-melbourne-avalon-service-1367475 – Saudia Cargo has commenced a scheduled freighter service between Riyadh and Melbourne Avalon Airport, marking its first direct cargo connection to Melbourne. The service, launched on 25 July 2026, is operated using a Boeing 747-400F aircraft with a capacity exceeding 100 tonnes. This expansion aims to enhance air cargo connectivity between Saudi Arabia and Australia, facilitating the transport of diverse cargo, including perishables, pharmaceuticals, industrial equipment, and e-commerce goods. The initiative is a collaborative effort involving the General Authority for Foreign Trade, the Saudi Export Development Authority, and other stakeholders to strengthen bilateral trade and logistics.
- https://www.arabnews.com/node/2652349/amp – Saudia Cargo has launched a direct freighter service between Riyadh and Melbourne, Australia, enhancing bilateral trade and supply chain connectivity. The service, which began on 25 July 2026, is operated by a Boeing 747-400 freighter with a capacity of over 100 tonnes. The aircraft’s nose-loading capability allows for the transport of heavy machinery, oversized equipment, and high-volume cargo. This expansion reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to diversifying its exports and strengthening commercial ties with the Asia-Pacific region. The initiative is developed in cooperation with the General Authority for Foreign Trade and the Saudi Export Development Authority.
- https://scmspectrum.com/saudia-cargo-moves-573000-tonnes-in-2025-expands-global-network/ – In 2025, Saudia Cargo transported over 573,000 tonnes of cargo, demonstrating solid operational performance and an expanded global network. The company operated approximately 4,000 flights, handling 15,000 tonnes in exports, and maintained an on-time performance rate above 90%. These achievements underscore Saudia Cargo’s commitment to efficiently and reliably moving high-value and sensitive shipments, reflecting its dedication to service quality across its network.
- https://www.eyeofriyadh.com/directory/details/6594_saudia-cargo – Saudia Cargo, headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is the cargo division of Saudia, the country’s flag carrier. Established in 2007, Saudia Cargo operates a fleet of dedicated freighters and offers cargo capacity on Saudi Arabian Airlines passenger flights, serving a global network of over 225 international and 26 domestic destinations. The company is renowned for its reliability, safety, security, and convenient connections, positioning itself as a key logistics link between East and West through its hubs in Saudi Arabia.
- https://www.cargo.one/press/saudia-cargo-partnership-announcement – Saudia Cargo, with air cargo experience dating back to 1949, was privatised in 2008 and now operates a fleet of seven Boeing 747 and 777 freighters, in addition to marketing the belly capacities of over 180 Saudi Arabian Airlines passenger aircraft. Since 2019, Saudia Cargo’s extensive network of over 225 international and 26 domestic destinations across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the USA has been enhanced by its membership in the world’s largest cargo alliance, SkyTeam Cargo. The company is currently chairing SkyTeam Cargo since 1 January 2021.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudia – Saudia, formerly known as Saudi Arabian Airlines, is the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, headquartered in Jeddah. Established in 1945, Saudia operates a fleet of 157 aircraft as of 2025, serving 148 destinations. The airline is a member of the SkyTeam alliance and has subsidiaries including Flyadeal and Saudia Cargo. Saudia has been recognised as the World’s Most Improved Airline for 2017 and 2020 by SkyTrax and was the main sponsor of the Williams Formula One team from 1977 to 1984.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score: 10
Notes: The article reports on a service launched on 25 July 2026, with the earliest known publication date matching this date. No evidence of recycled or outdated content was found. The narrative appears original and timely.
Quotes check
Score: 10
Notes: The article does not contain direct quotes. All information is paraphrased from the cited sources, which are consistent with the reported facts.
Source reliability
Score: 8
Notes: The primary sources cited are reputable: Centre for Aviation and Arab News. However, the article also references a press release from Saudia Cargo, which may introduce bias. The GCC Business News website is a niche publication with limited reach, which slightly reduces the overall reliability score.
Plausibility check
Score: 10
Notes: The claims made in the article are plausible and align with known industry trends. The launch of a new freighter service between Riyadh and Melbourne is consistent with Saudia Cargo’s expansion efforts and Saudi Arabia’s broader trade initiatives.