Saudi Arabian government-backed startup airline Riyadh Air is expected to begin flying to London's Heathrow Airport on October 26,  aviation sources reported on July 31.

The route from the Saudi capital represents what is expected to be the carrier's first destination announcement, with Riyadh Air joining Air Peace as new operators at Heathrow after months of ramping up operations across the country.

Riyadh Air flights are planned to operate daily using Boeing 787-9 aircraft, utilising British Airways slots through the bmi remedy slot release procedure.

The carrier will initially use HZ-RXX, an 8.4-year-old former Oman Air aircraft with 288 seats, though this is intended as a spare aircraft until new frames with Riyadh Air's cabin configuration become available.

The Riyadh-Heathrow route represents an attractive market for the new carrier, being highly trafficked, high-yielding, and fast-growing - an unusual combination of characteristics for any aviation market.

In the 12 months to May 2025, booking data shows approximately 500,000 point-to-point passengers travelled between the two airports, with an average fare of approximately $1,400 each way including fuel surcharges.

The high yields reflect the significant number of business and government travellers using the route, alongside students and those visiting friends and relatives, contrasting with the Heathrow-Jeddah route which attracts many pilgrims and generates lower average fares.

Riyadh Air would become the fourth airline operating between the airport pair, joining Virgin Atlantic which began Riyadh service in March.

The carrier's partnerships with Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines are expected to support the route launch, with Riyadh Air and Virgin potentially offering joint frequencies of two daily services.

Riyadh Air's broader network development will depend on its order book of 787-9s, A350-1000s, and A321neos, with a large Asian network expected to support higher frequencies and passenger loads from the Saudi capital.