Riyadh Air confirms commercial flights to London-Heathrow to launch on October 26
Riyadh Air will limit ticket sales of the flights to select people, including its own employees.

Riyadh Air, owned by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), has announced that it would launch commercial flights on October 26, 2025, marking the official beginning of the carrier’s operations.
Riyadh Air’s first flights between Riyadh King Khalid International Airport (RUH) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR) will begin on October 26, with the airline offering daily departures on the route with its spare Boeing 787-9, called ‘Jamila.’
The aircraft, registered as HZ-RXX, is an Oman Air airframe that Riyadh Air has leased. Boeing delivered the aircraft to the Omani airline in April 2017, planespotters.net records showed. Riyadh Air had leased another 787-9, registered as HZ-ARA, from SAUDIA, which the airline used to obtain an air operator’s certificate (AOC).
Technically, these will be commercial flights. However, the airline confirmed that tickets will be on sale “to select groups and Riyadh Air employees.”
Still, these “are a critical phase in ensuring unparalleled operational readiness ahead of receiving the first aircraft deliveries from Boeing, while utilizing Riyadh Air’s recently awarded slot” at LHR.
According to Airport Coordination Limited (ACL), an independent airport slot coordinator that also manages slots at RUH and LHR, indicated that Riyadh Air acquired its slots at the London airport from British Airways.
Marked as ‘remedy’ slots, these were given to Riyadh Air as part of commitments that the International Airlines Group (IAG) made when British Airways acquired another United Kingdom-based airline, British Midland International (BMI).
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) approved Riyadh Air as the remedy taker on July 31, 2025. At the same time, the CMA outlined that IAG’s commitments stipulate that operators can apply for slots to fly from LHR to either Aberdeen International Airport (ABZ) or Edinburgh Airport (EDI) for the upcoming International Air Transport Association (IATA) summer season, which will begin on March 29, 2026.
Nevertheless, Riyadh Air said its daily hops to LHR were “designed to ensure unparalleled readiness and operational excellence as it creates world-class travel experiences.”
Marketing the “operational excellence” phase as ‘Pathway to Perfect,’ the airline said that it would also begin flying to Dubai International Airport (DXB) “soon after,” with further routes being announced in the coming weeks.
Tony Douglas, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Riyadh Air, said that this is not just a launch; this is going to be “a tangible realization of a vision to connect Saudi Arabia to the world, a core pillar of Saudi Vision 2030.”
“Our commitment to begin operations in 2025 is being fulfilled. This rigorous flight program on Jamila allows us to fine-tune every detail, ensuring a seamless, reliable, and world-class experience.”
The airline also unveiled its loyalty program, called ‘Sfeer,’ saying that it would be one “of the world's most unique and exciting loyalty programs,” and its first-ever lounge at RUH.
The ‘Hafawa Lounge’ at the airport spans nearly 2,000 square meters (21,527 square feet) and can welcome up to 370 travelers, Riyadh Air said on October 7.
Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Crown Prince and Chairman of PIF, unveiled Riyadh Air in March 2023.
Since then, the Saudi Arabian airline has unveiled orders for 72 787-9s, 33 of which are options, as well as 60 Airbus A321neo aircraft, as well as partnerships with such airlines as Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic.
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