Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier and a PIF company, announced the launch of its first daily flights to London Heathrow Airport on October 26, 2025 – a new milestone toward ensuring operational excellence and creating world-class travel experiences.
In a press release, Riyadh Air said that it will operate daily flights from Riyadh to London Heathrow Airport aboard its designated Boeing 787-9 technical spare aircraft, “Jamila.”
During this initial phase, tickets will be available to select groups and Riyadh Air employees in order to ensure unparalleled operational readiness before receiving its first aircraft deliveries from Boeing, while using Riyadh Air’s operational slot at London Heathrow.
On this occasion, Riyadh Air’s CEO, Tony Douglas, said: “This isn’t just a launch; it’s 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. 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,” he added.
The new route marks Riyadh Air’s first European destination and a major stride toward international expansion. The Kingdom’s new national carrier unveiled ambitions to become a key player in the global aviation sector through serving over 100 destinations by 2030, focusing on opening global links for business and leisure travel.
The next major step in Riyadh Air’s launch plan—called “Pathway to Perfect”—will see the addition of flights to Dubai. Furthermore, the airline plans to announce more exciting new routes for Winter 2025 and Summer 2026 in the coming weeks.
