RIYADH AIR: Initial destinations and flight schedule

We finally have the launch schedules and first five destinations for the long-awaited launch of Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air. Launch pricing is intriguing rather than sensational, but at least any travellers on these flights will get the full Riyadh experience in Riyadh Air’s fully kitted-out cabins. But don’t expect an alcohol service. As far as we know, Saudi Arabia’s strict anti-alcohol restrictions will apply to the airline, at least initially.

London pilot flights

Riyadh Air has been running a London service for a while now, using an outwardly repainted

Riyadh Air’s London service is already operating, but only in a limited ‘soft launch’ form to maintain the Heathrow Slot, amongst other reasons.

The full London service is on sale from 1 July 2026.

Since 26 October 2025, the airline has operated between Riyadh and London Heathrow using a leased Boeing 787-9, widely reported to be an ex-Oman Air aircraft used as a technical spare for crew training, certification, systems testing, and operational familiarisation. Initial access was restricted to the Public Investment Fund and Riyadh Air staff, with some later availability limited to approved travel agents, among other channels.

Riyadh Air aircraft and flight schedule

From 1 July 2026, Riyadh Air is due to move the London route onto its own newly delivered Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and open it as a full daily public passenger service, finally shifting from rehearsal to showtime.

With that, the airline has now listed the following routes for sale on its website, starting on the outlined dates. The chart below includes frequencies, flight numbers, departure and arrival times, and flight durations. Thanks to OMAAT and other sources for the information.

Destination	Launch	Frequency	Departure	Flight time
London Heathrow (LHR)	10 June 2026	Daily	RX401 departs 02:35, arrives 07:30. RX402 departs 09:35, arrives 18:05.	3,073 miles. 6h55m to London, 6h30m to Riyadh.
Jeddah (JED)	14 June 2026	2 x daily	RX11 departs Riyadh 09:00, arrives Jeddah 10:50. RX12 departs Jeddah 12:05, arrives Riyadh 13:50. RX27 departs Riyadh 19:40, arrives Jeddah 21:30. RX28 departs Jeddah 22:45, arrives Riyadh 00:30.	530 miles. 1h55m to Jeddah, 1h45m to Riyadh.
Dubai (DXB)	18 June 2026	Daily	RX234 departs Riyadh 14:05, arrives Dubai 17:00. RX244 departs Dubai 18:30, arrives Riyadh 19:20.	543 miles. 1h55m to Dubai, 1h50m to Riyadh.
Cairo (CAI)	25 June 2026	Daily	RX331 departs Riyadh 16:10, arrives Cairo 18:55. RX332 departs Cairo 20:25, arrives Riyadh 23:00.	1,003 miles. 2h45m to Cairo, 2h35m to Riyadh.
Madrid (MAD)	17 July 2026	3 x weekly	RX531 departs Riyadh 02:00, arrives Madrid 07:55. RX532 departs Madrid 10:05, arrives Riyadh 17:20.	3,071 miles. 6h55m to Madrid, 6h15m to Riyadh.
Manchester (MAN)	23 July 2026	3 x weekly	RX417 departs Riyadh 01:30, arrives Manchester 06:40. RX418 departs Manchester 08:40, arrives Riyadh 17:20.	3,186 miles. 7h10m to Manchester, 6h40m to Riyadh.

Fare categories in each seating class

Riyadh Air is selling three fare styles in each cabin.

In economy and premium economy, the bundles are Lite, Smart and Flex. In business class, they are Smart, Flex and Elite. The airline also has a Business Elite product in the first row of Business Class, often referred to as Business Class Plus style seat. On the London route, that first-row Business Elite seat was showing as an extra SAR 1,000 or US$266 seat assignment charge unless booked as part of the top business fare bundle.

Pricing

Return business class fares on the Riyadh–London route are pricing from around SAR 27,000 / US$7,200 / AU$10,900 when originating in London, and around SAR 18,500 / US$4,930 / A$7,460 when originating in Riyadh. A mixed return fare, with one direction in business class and the other in economy, is pricing from around SAR 10,500 / US$2,800 / A$4,240.

Some one-way inaugural Riyadh–London fares of SAR 14,050 / US$3,750 / A$5,670 in business class, SAR 4,583 / US$1,220 / A$1,850 in premium economy and SAR 2,578 / US$690 / A$1,040 in economy have been available, but may not be now.

For Jeddah, Dubai, Cairo, Madrid and Manchester, go to the Riyadh Air website, and search your dates.

2PAXfly Takeout

The launch of any new airline, especially an international one, is exciting. Riyadh Air, from the almost totally closed to the west and non-muslims, Saudi Arabia, is particularly so. Add to that its positioning as a luxury airline, and you have aviation bloggers drooling. The only obvious negative is the ‘dry airline’ monica. Luxury premium flying is so tied up with exclusive champagne and high-end liquor that a dry premium airline is almost a contradiction in terms. I bet that when it is politically safe to do so, MbS will relax that policy.

The more exciting fact is the agreement just announced between Australia and the Saudi government about air rights. Although it is initially framed around cargo, it also opens the possibility of passenger flights. That will get me really going.