Riyadh Air to launch inaugural flight to London on October 26

Riyadh Air, owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), will begin operating daily flights between Riyadh and London Heathrow on October 26 as part of its operational readiness programme ahead of its full commercial launch.

The flights will be operated using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner named Jameela, the airline’s reserve aircraft. The inaugural service, flight RX401, will depart King Khalid International Airport at 3:15 am local time and arrive at Heathrow at 7:30 am, according to a statement.

The return flight RX402 will leave London at 9:30 am and arrive in Riyadh at 7:15 pm local time.

Tickets for the route will initially be available only to select passenger groups and Riyadh Air employees as the airline tests systems, crews and service procedures. The airline said the London route forms part of an evaluation process before it begins commercial operations with its own fleet of Boeing aircraft.

Riyadh Air plans to introduce additional flights to Dubai following the London service. The operations will support a comprehensive review of flight performance, crew training and ground handling as part of a wider readiness programme for the upcoming winter 2025 and summer 2026 schedules.

The carrier also unveiled its new loyalty programme, Safeer, which will offer digital membership services and personalised rewards. The launch of Safeer is part of Riyadh Air’s broader effort to build customer engagement ahead of its global rollout.

Riyadh Air was established in 2023 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to strengthen the kingdom’s aviation sector and position Riyadh as a global transport hub. The airline aims to fly to more than 100 destinations worldwide by 2030, supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan to diversify the economy and boost tourism.

The soft launch from Riyadh to London marks the first step in testing the airline’s operational systems and customer experience before public ticket sales begin.

Riyadh Air is one of several major aviation projects backed by the PIF, which has invested heavily in airports, airlines and logistics infrastructure as part of efforts to attract 330 million passengers annually by the end of the decade.