Riyadh Air's Bespoke Dreamliner Will Fly to London on July 1

Riyadh Air has opened bookings for its bespoke Boeing 787 Dreamliner and will operate its inaugural commercial passenger flight to London Heathrow on July 1. Tickets went on sale on May 19 via Riyadh Air’s website for daily services between Riyadh (RUH) and London (LHR), marking the Saudi startup’s first operations with its own tailored aircraft after operating the route with an ex-Oman Air jet since October.

“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 at Riyadh Air.

Booking, schedule and early operations

• As of May 19, flights on Riyadh Air’s Boeing 787 are available exclusively through the airline’s website.
• Scheduled times: Riyadh to London departs 2:35 a.m. and arrives 7:30 a.m.; London to Riyadh departs 9:35 a.m. and arrives 6:05 p.m. (times will change slightly when U.K. clocks go back at the end of October).
• The carrier launched the Riyadh–London route in October using an ex-Oman Air Dreamliner in temporary livery to secure Heathrow slots and complete crew training, before taking delivery of its bespoke aircraft.

Cabins, fares and onboard experience

Riyadh Air is selling three cabin classes with tiered fare families. Business class fares on the inaugural Riyadh–London service start at 16,154 Saudi Arabian Riyal (approximately $4,308). Business fares are offered as Smart, Flex and Elite; all fare types include fast-track security, lounge access and a chauffeur service. The airline also operates a Sfeer loyalty program that awards Sfeer and Level points according to fare class.

• Business Elite: Passengers can upgrade a Smart or Flex fare to a Business Elite seat in the front row for an additional 1,000 SAR (around $266). These four Business Elite seats feature 32-inch screens — Riyadh Air claims they are 10 inches larger than the 24-inch screens in the rest of the business cabin — and the two middle seats combine to form a double bed.
• Premium Economy: fares start at $1,222 one-way.
• Economy: fares start at $687 one-way. Premium and economy fares are sold as Lite, Smart and Flex, with Flex offering the most lenient change and refund terms and complimentary seat selection.

Fleet plans and outlook

Riyadh Air has placed ambitious orders as it builds a global network: up to 72 Boeing 787-9s, up to 50 Airbus A350-1000s, and up to 60 Airbus A321neos. London Heathrow is the airline’s first destination with its bespoke Dreamliner, and the carrier has signaled ambitions to expand that network substantially — “a large global network to rival the likes of Emirates and Qatar Airways,” according to reporting on the rollout. The July 1 commercial launch represents a key operational milestone as Riyadh Air transitions from temporary equipment and training operations to services using its own cabin design and product.