Saudi Arabia’s new national airline, Riyadh Air, will operate its inaugural flight to London on October 26. However, passengers on this milestone flight will be part of a special, invitation-only group, as tickets are not yet open for public sale. Onboard will be Riyadh Air and Public Investment Fund (PIF) employees and their families.
The first flight will not be operated by Riyadh Air’s own Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner but rather by a leased Boeing 787-9 (registration HZ-RXX) from Oman Air. The aircraft will feature Oman Air’s cabin crew and seat configuration.
According to the schedule, flight RX401 will depart Riyadh at 03:15 a.m. and land in London at 07:30 a.m. The return flight, RX402, will depart London at 09:30 a.m. and arrive in Riyadh at 07:15 p.m. These flights are part of a trial program designed to test the airline’s service procedures and operational readiness. Following the London route, Riyadh Air will launch flights to Dubai, with additional routes for the 2025 winter and 2026 summer seasons to be announced in the coming weeks.
Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas said, “This is not just a beginning — it’s the realization of our vision to connect Saudi Arabia with the world.” He added that the testing phase aims to establish a flawless service standard across every stage of the passenger experience.
The airline also introduced its new loyalty program, called “Sfeer”, which means “Ambassador” in Arabic. Defined as a lifestyle ecosystem built on digital engagement and community participation, Sfeer will allow members to share their status with friends and reach higher tiers together. Early members with “Founder” status will receive benefits such as priority ticket access and invitations to exclusive events.
According to Douglas, Sfeer aims to “redefine the rules of airline loyalty programs.” The full launch of the program is planned for 2026.
In the coming months, Riyadh Air is expected to begin taking delivery of its own Boeing 787 aircraft. However, full-scale commercial operations may be postponed until 2026.
