Riyadh Air finally opens London Heathrow route to paying passengers
May 19, 2026
Riyadh Air has opened public reservations for its first fully commercial passenger flights between Riyadh and London Heathrow, with services due to begin on 1 July using the carrier’s own Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
The launch marks the formal start of commercial operations on Riyadh Air’s flagship London route after months of proving and familiarisation flights between the two cities.
The Saudi Arabian startup airline had originally hoped to launch passenger operations in late 2025. However, production delays affecting Boeing 787-9 deliveries, alongside delays to bespoke cabin interiors, pushed the launch back until summer 2026.
“Today marks a truly exciting milestone for Riyadh Air as we introduce our new aircraft and signature premium experience on our established London route,” said Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas.
“It demonstrates our deep commitment to delivering a truly world-class journey for our guests, one that blends exceptional comfort, cutting-edge technology and our distinctive Saudi ‘Hafawa’ hospitality from the moment they step on board,” he added.
Riyadh Air used leased Oman Air aircraft to maintain Heathrow slots
While awaiting delivery of its own aircraft, Riyadh Air has spent the past eight months operating daily flights between Riyadh and London using a leased Oman Air Boeing 787-9 registered HZ-RXX and named Jamila.
The flights were primarily used for crew familiarisation and operational readiness training while also helping the airline retain valuable Heathrow slots allocated by Airport Coordination Limited for the winter season.
The aircraft retained Oman Air’s standard two-class cabin interior rather than Riyadh Air’s custom-designed onboard product.
Seats on the flights were made available to airline employees and staff connected to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) as part of Riyadh Air’s pathway-to-operational-readiness programme, simulating live passenger operations ahead of the commercial launch.
Riyadh Air’s London Heathrow flights go on sale
From 19 May, passengers can begin booking seats on Riyadh Air’s daily Heathrow service across four cabin classes: Business Elite, Business, Premium Economy and Economy.
The airline’s Boeing 787-9s are configured to accommodate 290 passengers, including four seats in Business Elite, 24 in Business, 39 in Premium Economy and 223 in Economy.
Daily flight RX401 will depart Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport at 02:35 local time and arrive at London Heathrow at 07:30. The return flight, RX402, will depart Heathrow at 09:35 and arrive back in Riyadh at 18:05 local time.
The first flight of many planned for the coming years
According to the airline, the launch of commercial London services strengthens Riyadh Air’s ambition to connect Saudi Arabia with major global hubs while supporting the kingdom’s wider tourism and economic goals.
Additional routes planned as more aircraft arrive include Cairo, Dubai, Manchester, Madrid and Jeddah.
The airline plans to operate a mixed fleet of Boeing 787-9s and Airbus A350-1000s on long-haul international services, alongside Airbus A321neos for regional and domestic routes.
Riyadh Air currently holds firm orders for 39 Boeing 787-9s with options for a further 33 aircraft. It also has 25 Airbus A350-1000s on order, with rights to increase that deal to 50 aircraft.
For narrowbody operations, the airline has ordered 60 Airbus A321neos.
If all options are exercised, Riyadh Air could eventually operate a fleet of 182 aircraft.
Delays pushed Riyadh Air’s launch back by 18 months
First unveiled in 2023, Riyadh Air originally planned to begin operations by the end of 2024 as part of Saudi Arabia’s wider Vision 2030 programme.
However, delays affecting Boeing production, GE Aerospace engines and cabin suppliers repeatedly pushed back the airline’s launch timeline.
Although the carrier’s first aircraft are now almost 18 months behind schedule, Riyadh Air’s first three Boeing 787-9s — registered HZ-RXAA, HZ-RXAB and HZ-RXAC — are currently awaiting delivery at Boeing’s Charleston final assembly facility in South Carolina.
Unlike Gulf rivals Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, Riyadh Air’s primary focus is expected to centre on bringing inbound tourism to Saudi Arabia as the kingdom attempts to diversify its economy beyond oil and establish Riyadh as a major global aviation hub.
Featured image: VanderWolf Image /stock.adobe.com
