Lufthansa introduces long-distance flights departing from Munich in the autumn season

Lufthansa introduces long-distance flights departing from Munich in the autumn season

Lufthansa, Germany's largest airline, is set to fly nonstop from Munich to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, starting from October 26, 2025. This move marks the airline's return to a Middle East route and an expansion of its operations at Munich Airport.

The new route will offer three weekly departures, with Lufthansa Group eventually providing a total of 22 weekly departures to the kingdom, serving not only Riyadh but also Dammam and Jeddah. This development comes as the Lufthansa Group celebrates its 65th anniversary of its first flight to Saudi Arabia.

Departure from Munich is scheduled for 21:45, arriving in Riyadh at 4:50 local time the following day. The return flight departs from Riyadh at 6:25 and lands in Munich at 10:25. Lufthansa will operate this route using an Airbus A350-900.

However, while Riyadh continues to grow and modernize, the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia remains highly controversial. In recent years, the kingdom has faced criticism over judicial abuses, suppression of free speech, religious discrimination, and the exploitation of migrant workers.

One of the key issues is the record-high executions in 2025. By early August, Saudi authorities had executed at least 241 people, many of whom did not receive due process, and over half of whom were foreign nationals. The escalation in executions is seen as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's autocratic rule, using the justice system to crackdown dissent.

The suppression of freedom of expression and political dissent is another area of concern. The execution of journalist Turki al-Jasser and the harsh sentencing of activists like Salma al-Shehab indicate ongoing repression of dissent under the guise of combating crime or protecting state security.

Discrimination and religious freedom violations are also prevalent. Reports highlight systemic discrimination against Shiite Muslims and other minority religious groups, with harsh punishments that disproportionately affect them. Saudi Arabia is described as one of the worst countries globally regarding religious persecution.

There are also widespread reports of poor working conditions, occupational health and safety violations, and a critical lack of transparency in investigating deaths of migrant workers, especially those involved in major projects linked to the Vision 2030 development plan. Death certificates often list causes as "natural death" without proper investigation, indicating negligence and inadequate policies protecting migrant laborers.

Despite these concerns, Saudi Arabia is preparing to host major international events in the coming years, including the World Expo in 2030 and the FIFA Men's World Cup in 2034. As Lufthansa prepares to take off on its new route, the airline and its passengers may find themselves navigating more than just the skies.

[1] Amnesty International. (2025). Saudi Arabia: Record-breaking executions in 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/08/saudi-arabia-record-breaking-executions-in-2025/

[2] Human Rights Watch. (2025). Saudi Arabia: Crackdown on Activists and Workers' Rights Abuses. [online] Available at: https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/02/10/saudi-arabia-crackdown-activists-and-workers-rights-abuses

[3] Reporters Without Borders. (2025). Saudi Arabia. [online] Available at: https://rsf.org/en/saudi-arabia

[4] Freedom House. (2025). Freedom in the World 2025 - Saudi Arabia. [online] Available at: https://freedomhouse.org/country/saudi-arabia/freedom-world/2025

[5] Migrant-Rights.org. (2025). Migrant Worker Deaths in Saudi Arabia. [online] Available at: https://migrant-rights.org/saudi-arabia/deaths-in-saudi-arabia/

1. Travellers on Lufthansa's new Munich-Riyadh route may find that Saudi Arabia's lifestyle, marked by rapid modernization, offers a stark contrast to the ongoing controversies over human rights issues, including judicial abuses, free speech suppression, religious discrimination, and migrant worker exploitation.
2. As Lufthansa Group plans for 22 weekly departures to Saudi Arabia, exploring the kingdom's culture and travel destinations could prove intriguing, yet it's crucial for passengers to be aware of the controversies surrounding human rights and lifestyle aspects, particularly the growing concerns over executions, freedom of expression, religious freedom, and labour rights.

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