AVIATION-

#1- US-based Delta Air Lines will launch direct flights between the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, starting October 2026, the carrier said in a statement yesterday. The new route will run three weekly flights on Delta’s Airbus A350-900 aircraft, with four class options on board.

With the new route, Delta will be the first US carrier to set up direct flights between the US and Riyadh, Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian told Bloomberg. Delta is also in talks with the Saudi carrier for potential prospects at King Salman International Airport — set to be one of the largest globally.

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#2- PIF-owned aircraft lessor AviLease signed its first leasing agreement with the Kingdom’s newest national carrier Riyadh Air for a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, the airline said in a press release yesterday. The aircraft is scheduled for delivery before year-end, supporting Riyadh Air’s preparations for its full operational launch — a rollout that began with daily flights to London Heathrow launched last Sunday.

IN CONTEXT- The initial flights operated on a Boeing 787-9 aircraft named Jamila ahead of new aircraft deliveries from Boeing. The Kingdom’s new airline voiced plans back in June to serve 100 cities by 2030, aiming to add a destination every two months once it’s operational. Meanwhile, Avilease’s fleet now stands at 192 owned and managed aircraft leased to 48 carriers across 29 countries as of 3Q 2025.

M&A WATCH-

Jana Medical inked a 60-day non-binding MoU with Saudi Health TrainingCenter to acquire up to 51% of the center’s equity shares by issuing new shares, it said in a Tadawul disclosure yesterday. The move, which is pending regulatory approvals, comes under Jana’s growth plans.

CAPITAL MARKETS-

Venture capital firm Hala Ventures has rebranded as Hala Capital, expanding its investment scope to private equity and private credit, after securing a license from the Capital Market Authority to launch a private capital firm, it said on LinkedIn yesterday. The move aims to fill the gap between early-stage innovation and institutional-scale investment, transforming the company from a venture-focused investor into a diversified private capital asset manager.

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