Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier Riyadh Air has effectively confirmed its true commercial launch date, as tickets for its Riyadh–London Heathrow service have gone on public sale through online travel agencies ahead of an official announcement.
The airline began limited, invite-only operations on October 26, 2025, operating daily flights between Riyadh King Khalid International Airport and London Heathrow on a leased Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Those flights were restricted to employees, partners, and select guests as part of an operational readiness phase, according to company statements.
Recent listings on several OTAs, including Trip.com and regional platforms such as Almosafer, now show Riyadh Air flights between Riyadh and London available for booking by the general public, indicating the transition from trial operations to full commercial service. Some third-party sellers also describe standard services such as web check-in, seat selection, and ticket changes for Riyadh Air itineraries.
Riyadh Air, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has previously said it aims to serve around 100 destinations within five years and has orders for a mixed fleet of Boeing 787-9s, Airbus A321neos, and Airbus A350-1000s. The quiet start to public ticket sales suggests the carrier is locking in its operational launch window on the Riyadh–London route before a broader network rollout.