Riyadh Air to Launch Daily London Heathrow Flights Oct 26
- SAUDI ARABIA BREAKING NEWS
- Oct 8
- 2 min read
Riyadh, October 8, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Riyadh Air, the Kingdom’s new national carrier and a Public Investment Fund company, announced the launch of its first daily flights to London Heathrow starting October 26, marking a key step toward full operational readiness and world-class service delivery, the airline said.
Riyadh Air also unveiled its innovative loyalty program “Sfeer,” designed to offer exclusive benefits to early Founding Members and introduce a community-driven approach to loyalty in global aviation.
Beginning October 26, the airline will operate daily Riyadh–London Heathrow services using a Boeing 787-9 aircraft named “Jamila,” currently serving as the technical spare. In the initial phase, tickets will be available for select passenger groups and Riyadh Air employees as part of a structured operational program ahead of receiving its first new aircraft from Boeing, utilizing its newly allocated Heathrow slot.
The inaugural RX401 will depart King Khalid International Airport at 3:15 a.m. and arrive at London Heathrow at 7:30 a.m.; the return RX402 will depart London at 9:30 a.m. and arrive Riyadh at 7:15 p.m. (local times).
Riyadh Air said the evaluation of the initial “Jamila” flights will inform additional routes—including Dubai—as it prepares new destinations for Winter 2025 and Summer 2026.
Chief Executive Tony Douglas said the launch is “the realization of our vision to connect the Kingdom with the world,” adding that the planned program allows the airline to perfect operational details ahead of full-scale operations.
The Sfeer program blends the Arabic meaning of “Ambassador” with “Sphere,” enabling members to represent Riyadh Air internationally. Early registrants receive Founding Member status with priority booking and exclusive benefits. Features include sharing Level Points with family and friends to reach higher tiers together; by 2026, Sfeer will add interactive challenges, leaderboards, and a no-points-expiry policy.
