Saudi Arabia’s new flag carrier Riyadh Air has opened bookings for flights between Riyadh and London, the airline said on May 19.
The route is available to book through the carrier’s website and the Riyadh Air mobile app on iOS and Android. Members of the airline’s Sfeer loyalty programme can access what Riyadh Air described as a best offer guarantee.
The London route marks the start of commercial operations for the carrier, which is wholly owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and was established as part of the kingdom’s push to build an aviation sector under its Vision 2030 economic diversification programme.
Riyadh Air is positioned to operate from a hub at the Saudi capital, competing with established Gulf carriers including Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways for connecting traffic between Europe, Asia and beyond. The airline has placed substantial aircraft orders as it builds towards a planned network spanning multiple continents.
The carrier forms part of a wider Saudi strategy to lift international passenger traffic and position Riyadh as a global transit hub, alongside heavy investment in airport infrastructure and tourism.
Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, said, “Today marks a truly exciting milestone for Riyadh Air as we introduce our new aircraft and signature premium experience on our established London route. 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.”
Douglas added: “Connecting Saudi Arabia with the UK directly and beyond through our growing network of global destinations including Jeddah, Cairo and Dubai, sits at the very heart of what we are building at Riyadh Air and the Kingdom’s ambitions under Vision 2030. We look forward to welcoming our guests aboard to experience the future of air travel.
Daily flights to London Heathrow (LHR) on RX401: (All times local)
- Depart RUH at 02:35
- Arrive LHR at 07:30
Daily flights to Riyadh (RUH) on RX402: (All times local)
- Depart LHR at 09:35
- Arrive RUH at 18:05
The airline announced a flight between Riyadh and Cairo using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, the company announced on February 25, as the Saudi carrier takes its first steps into commercial operations.
The Riyadh-Cairo corridor ranks among the busiest air routes globally, with around 2.70mn passengers recorded as of December 31, 2025. The airline did not specify an exact launch date, saying only that services would begin soon.
Chief Executive Officer Tony Douglas said the route had been selected to serve a market aligned with the carrier’s broader ambitions. “The launch of our commercial service to Cairo marks a true beginning of our journey to connect Riyadh to the world and the world to Riyadh,” Nemnna reported him as saying on February 25.
Why it matters for the trade
The opening of bookings gives agents a concrete product to sell on a Saudi-flagged carrier for the first time, with London a deliberate choice as a high-volume, high-yield long-haul market. For the trade, Riyadh Air’s entry adds capacity and competition on Europe-Gulf routes and signals that Saudi Arabia intends to compete directly with the established Gulf hubs rather than feed traffic through them.