Delta Air Lines is set to become the first U.S. carrier to offer nonstop service to Saudi Arabia, announcing it will launch flights between Atlanta, Georgia, and Riyadh starting in 2026—a move symbolizing deepening ties between Washington and the Arab world after the Trump-brokered peace deal that ended the Gaza war.
The announcement, made in an Oct. 27 release, comes as Saudi Arabia is emerging as a diplomatic and economic bridge in the Middle East following its active mediation role in the Israel–Hamas cease-fire.
The new route will “start slow,” but “gain popularity,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian said at the Fortune Global Forum in Riyadh on Monday, describing the new connection as a strategic move to reshape global aviation routes….