Delta CEO launches controversial new flight route he says will become America's favorite

Delta Air Lines might just have dictated America's next big holiday destination, at least according to its CEO, as he has launched a new controversial flight route that seemingly takes advantage of a growing political bond.

It makes sense for an airline to prioritise routes that travelers want to take, and these are often dominated by the world's most popular holiday destinations, even if they can take an age to get to.

Many of these have been set in stone for decades now, yet one of the most popular airlines in the United States appears to believe that a new contender could have emerged to take the crown for American vacationers.

As reported by the Independent, Delta Air Lines has now launched a new direct route to Saudi Arabia, letting travelers looking for business and pleasure jet off to Riyadh with far more convenience.

Delta has announced a new flight route to a destination that's growing in popularity (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

This will come at no surprise to anyone that has been paying attention to the rapidly growing influence of Saudi Arabia across the world, as the country's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has its fingers in major sporting projects, mega companies like Uber, and even one of the gaming industry's biggest developers.

Much like Dubai, Riyadh is increasingly seen by those with enough money to travel there as a premium destination, and Delta is looking to strike while the iron is hot in that regard, despite a number of controversies surrounding the nation's human rights records.

The flight itself will start from Delta's Atlanta hub, taking off three times per week from October 2026, and stretching over 7,000 miles to the Saudi Arabian capital across a 13 to 15-hour flight.

Speaking at an event that announced the new route, Delta CEO Ed Bastian outlined: "Launching service to Riyadh marks a key step in Delta's global growth as we start our second century of flight.

"Our new flights will connect customers to this dynamic, fast-growing region while delivering the care, comfort, and reliability they expect. It reflects our bold vision to create meaningful opportunities and experiences in every corner of the world in the years ahead."

Delta is hoping that American tourists become more receptive to Riyadh as a destination, despite its controversial status (Giuseppe Cacace/AFP via Getty Images)

Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Tourism, added that "Delta's new nonstop flights between Atlanta and Riyadh mark a significant milestone in strengthening global connectivity between our nations and will open new doors for tourism and cultural exchange while driving business and innovation."

Bastian isn't entirely convinced that the route will immediately take off with American tourists though, as he asserts that people from the United States are "not quite sure" about visiting Saudi Arabia, and that the route's popularity will "start slow."