Booked yet? Riyadh Air opens London ticket sales on new Boeing 787 flights from July

Riyadh Air has opened public ticket sales for flights on its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners on the Riyadh–London route, with full-service operations scheduled to begin on July 1, 2026, the carrier announced. The Saudi PIF-owned startup said seats for flights between King Khalid International Airport and London Heathrow are now available through its website, mobile app and major travel booking platforms, after ticketing opened on May 19.

“Today marks a truly exciting milestone for Riyadh Air as we introduce our new aircraft and signature premium experience on our established London route,” said Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air. “Connecting Saudi Arabia with the UK directly and beyond through our growing network of global destinations including Jeddah, Cairo and Dubai, sits at the very heart of what we are building at Riyadh Air and the Kingdom’s ambitions under Vision 2030.”

Details

The carrier — owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund — has already operated daily Riyadh–London services since October 26, 2025, using a technical spare aircraft named "Jamila" as part of an operational readiness programme. Those initial flights have been available via approved travel partners and will continue through June 30, after which the route will switch exclusively to the airline’s incoming 787-9 Dreamliners.

• Aircraft type: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (new deliveries due in the coming weeks)
• Commercial full-service start date: July 1, 2026
• Ticket sales opened: May 19, 2026
• Current interim operations commenced: October 26, 2025 (aircraft “Jamila”)
• Route: Riyadh King Khalid International Airport ↔ London Heathrow

Riyadh Air had originally targeted a 2025 launch for commercial operations, a date it missed for full Dreamliner service but partially met through the earlier operational readiness flights. The airline said the Boeing 787-9s that will enter service on July 1 are expected to be delivered in the coming weeks, enabling the switch to a consistent Dreamliner-led schedule for the capital-to-capital route.

Outlook

The move to open public bookings and commit the Riyadh–London route to the new 787-9 fleet signals a step up in Riyadh Air’s commercial rollout as it expands its international footprint. The carrier said more destinations will be announced as it grows its network; Tony Douglas highlighted ambitions to link the UK “and beyond” to Saudi Arabia, naming Jeddah, Cairo and Dubai as part of the airline’s global connections.

For travellers, the immediate impact is clearer availability of Dreamliner product on the Riyadh–London sector from July, and broader access to fares via the airline’s direct and partner channels. Riyadh Air’s timetable transition — from temporary technical aircraft to its own Dreamliners — will be watched closely as the carrier moves from operational readiness into sustained commercial service, a development first reported by Gulf News.