Riyadh Air to launch first route to London Heathrow on October 26

Riyadh Air, the new national airline of Saudi Arabia, will begin daily flights between Riyadh and London Heathrow starting October 26. The launch marks a key stage in the carrier’s operational build-up ahead of its planned fleet expansion.

The flights are scheduled to depart Riyadh at 03:15, arriving at London Heathrow at 07:30. Return flights will leave London at 09:30 and land in Riyadh at 19:15. Riyadh Air has already secured landing slots at Heathrow to support the service.

The start of the London route is part of Riyadh Air’s strategy to establish a network of international destinations as it prepares to receive its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. The addition of the widebody twinjets is expected to shape the airline’s long-haul operations.

Alongside the 787-9s, the Riyadh Air fleet will include Airbus A350-1000 widebodies and A321neo narrowbodies, in line with the carrier’s plans for both intercontinental and regional routes. The company has not disclosed specific delivery dates for these aircraft, but stated that new arrivals will support future route additions.

Recently, the first 787 was revealed after receiving the Saudi carrier’s characteristic livery.

CEO Toni Douglas has stated that Riyadh Air aims to position itself as a global carrier connecting Saudi Arabia with key international markets, in line with the country’s Vision 2030 initiative. After London, the airline plans to add flights to Dubai as part of its ongoing network expansion.

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