On 26 October 2025, Riyadh Air will be launching its inaugural flight to London Heathrow – its first ever international route.
They’ll be using their Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which is a technical spare aircraft, which they’ve affectionately named “Jamila,” to fine-tune every detail of the passenger experience.
The CEO, Tony Douglas, had this to say:
“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.”
Related: Saudi Arabia’s New Airline – Riyadh Air
The airline also plans a Dubai route soon after, and is aiming to serve 100 destinations by 2030 – so London is just the start.
Initial flight ticket sales are reserved for the Public Investment Fund (PIF), some other select groups, and Riyadh Air employees, with public sales opening later.
Riyadh Air is calling the initial London flights and the additional Dubai route a part of their Pathway to Perfect plan.
The plane departs Riyadh (RUH) early at 03:15, getting you into London (LHR) at 07:30 local time.
The return flight leaves London at 09:30, landing back in Riyadh by 19:15, all local times.
Time difference between Saudi Arabia and the U.K is 2 hours.
Tony Douglas added:
“This carefully sequenced approach is our pathway to perfect, and we are now incredibly close to full operations with further destinations to be announced in the coming weeks as our new aircraft are delivered.”
If you are also interested in working at Riyadh Air, they have several open roles you can apply for, from cabin crew to IT, to managerial roles, and many more.
Related: Riyadh Air Cabin Crew Salary 2025
The All New Riyadh Air Rewards Points
Riyadh Air is also rolling out its customer loyalty program, called Sfeer which means “Ambassador” in Arabic.
Sfeer is built around community, meaning you are not just earning points for yourself, but you will be able to share your points with family and friends.
This announcement is a continuation of the new era of travel connecting Saudi Arabia to the world. If you want to learn more about the national strategy driving this growth, you check out the Saudi Vision 2030 Tourism Goals.
