Riyadh AirSaudi Arabian Airlines, an emerging state-owned airline with huge ambitions, will begin limited commercial operations on October 26.
The airline's first flight will connect Riyadh and London Heathrow on a daily basis. It was initially sold only to airline employees and what the airline calls a “select group.”
The rollout will allow Riyadh Airways to meet its guaranteed utilization requirement of one arrival and landing slot per day while waiting at capacity-limited Heathrow Airport First batch of new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner delivered.
In the meantime, the airline will utilize leased Dreamliners that have been used since January for certification verification operations and pilot and crew training. The leased aircraft has Riyadh Airways livery but does not have the newly delivered interior. Nonetheless, the airline describes the onboard design as “a high-spec interior that meets the expectations of passengers traveling on a world-class, modern airline.”
Riyadh Airways is part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing $800 billion plan Start the tourism economy. The airline has firm orders for 124 aircraft, including 39 787-9s, 25 Airbus A350-1000s and 60 Airbus A321neo narrow-body aircraft. It aspires to become a global east-west connector, competing with airlines such as Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways and Emirates.
Riyadh will specifically cater to high-end travelers, offering four-class interiors on the A350 and promising luxury lounges. The airline also said it will equip its aircraft with industry-leading digital features and connectivity, including the largest Business Class inflight entertainment screen in the sky.
Riyadh Airways said on Wednesday its second route will connect its home city with Dubai and will begin operations shortly after London.
“We will be announcing further exciting new routes for winter 2025 and summer 2026 in the coming weeks,” the airline said.
