Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air to launch inaugural flight on October 26

Riyadh Air will launch its inaugural flight on October 26, an important step in the airline’s operational plan, with London being the airline’s first destination, CEO Tony Douglas announced on Wednesday,

After launching daily flights to Britain’s Heathrow Airport, flights to Dubai will then follow Douglas said.

The airline, introduced in 2023 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will connect Saudi Arabia’s capital to 100 cities by the end of the decade as a key part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. It aims to position Riyadh as a global hub, complementing Jeddah-based as part of a dual-flag carrier strategy, Douglas told Al Arabiya News in an interview in April.

Riyadh Air’s Jamila

The airline’s first technical spare aircraft, Jamila, landed at King Khalid International Airport on January 13th, marking a key milestone in Riyad Air’s journey toward operational readiness.

“Jamila will support pilot and crew training and assist in obtaining the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) with the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), bringing us closer to delivering a world-class travel experiences later this year,” the airline said in January.

“Starting October 26th, we’ll begin daily flights with Jamila to London Heathrow Airport (LHR), followed by Dubai, for Riyadh Air employees and select groups, to ensure unparalleled readiness and operational excellence, marking a key step in our pathway to perfect,” the airline said in a post on X on Wednesday.