Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's new national carrier and a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), launched its inaugural flight, RX401, from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh to London Heathrow Airport on Wednesday.
The flight- the airline's new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner- arrived at 7:30 am local time, marking a new chapter in Saudi Arabia's air travel and connectivity sector.
The flight also marks the debut of Riyadh Air's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet, following the arrival of the carrier's first aircraft in Riyadh on June 5 and a third aircraft on June 7. Additional aircraft deliveries are scheduled in the coming period to support the airline's operational plans and its goal of connecting the Kingdom to 100 destinations worldwide by 2030.
The inaugural flight represents a significant milestone for Riyadh Air, which began operating daily flights to London last October using the reserve aircraft "Jamila" as part of its "Pathway to Perfect" operational programme. The programme was designed to ensure operational readiness and evaluate passenger touch points ahead of the launch of commercial services using the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet.
Speaking to media, CEO Tony Douglas said the airline could benefit from travellers avoiding other parts of the Gulf due to the Iran-US conflict.
The airline plans to fly to 22 cities by March 2027, Douglas said.
With up to 72 787s and as many as 60 A321neos and 50 A350s on order, Douglas called the airline "the biggest global aviation startup in modern history".
