Saudi Arabia-based Riyadh Air has announced that it will launch daily flights to London Heathrow Airport on 26 October. The flights will be operated with a “technical reserve” Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. However, the airline stated that tickets will initially be available only to select groups and airline employees.
Operational Readiness Phase
Riyadh Air explained that this limited sales process aims to achieve “a unique level of operational readiness” before receiving its first Boeing 787-9 deliveries.
The airline’s first Boeing 787-9 aircraft rolled off the assembly line at Boeing’s Charleston facility in August, but the delivery date and the start of public ticket sales for commercial flights have not yet been announced.
New Routes on the Way
Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas stated that this development marks the company’s fulfilment of its “commitment to begin operations in 2025.”
Douglas also noted that flights to Dubai will commence shortly after the London launch, with new routes to be announced for the 2025 winter and 2026 summer seasons.
Preparing for a Large Fleet
Riyadh Air will use a Boeing 787-9 leased from Oman Air, powered by GE Aerospace GEnx engines, as a “technical reserve” aircraft in operational testing. The company has a total of 72 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners on order.
Of these, 39 are firm orders and 33 are options. Riyadh Air has also placed an order for 50 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft.
The airline aims to build an extensive network by adding Airbus A320neo family narrow-body aircraft to its fleet in the future.
Loyalty Programme: Sfeer
Riyadh Air has also introduced its new loyalty programme, Sfeer, designed to offer exclusive benefits to customers. The programme is positioned as part of the airline’s premium service approach.
