{"id":2300043,"date":"2026-06-19T11:00:56","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T09:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/jetflights\/riyadh-air-launch-787-london-first-routes-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-07-21T10:39:04","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T08:39:04","slug":"riyadh-air-launch-787-london-first-routes-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/jetflights\/riyadh-air-launch-787-london-first-routes-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Riyadh Air Takes Off &#8211; London First"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><style>.et_pb_title_container h1.entry-title { padding-top: 40px !important; }<\/style><\/p>\r\n<p>On 10 June 2026, a Boeing 787-9 in a striking deep-violet livery rolled to a stop at London Heathrow. For most travellers it was just another widebody from the Gulf. For the aviation industry, it was the moment a three-year-old PowerPoint finally became a real airline.<\/p>\r\n<p>That was Riyadh Air\u2019s first revenue flight \u2014 and Saudi Arabia\u2019s loud, well-funded entry into a Gulf long-haul market already ruled by Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"background: #f4f6f9; border: 1px solid #e2e8f0; border-radius: 8px; padding: 18px 22px; margin: 24px 0; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7;\">\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 8px; font-weight: bold; color: #1565c0;\">Quick Facts<\/p>\r\n<ul style=\"margin: 0; padding-left: 18px;\">\r\n<li><strong>Airline:<\/strong> Riyadh Air (RX), Saudi Arabia\u2019s new flag carrier, owned by the Public Investment Fund<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Launch:<\/strong> first commercial flight Riyadh\u2013London Heathrow, 10 June 2026 \u2014 brought forward about three weeks<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Fleet:<\/strong> Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner; first three delivered in early June 2026<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Launch routes:<\/strong> London, Jeddah, Dubai, Cairo, Madrid and Manchester<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>CEO:<\/strong> Tony Douglas<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>The goal:<\/strong> turn Riyadh into a global hub under Saudi Vision 2030<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top: 22px;\">From Launch Video to Heathrow<\/h2>\r\n<p>Riyadh Air was unveiled in 2023 as a wholly owned venture of Saudi Arabia\u2019s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund. For three years it existed mostly as branding: a much-admired lavender-and-indigo livery, a slick marketing campaign, and a very large order book. The actual flying kept slipping into the future.<\/p>\r\n<p>Then the jets started arriving. Riyadh Air took its first two 787-9 Dreamliners on 5 June 2026 and a third two days later, and with metal finally on the ramp it pulled its launch forward by roughly three weeks. London went first.<\/p>\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top: 22px;\">Six Cities in Six Weeks<\/h2>\r\n<p>The launch schedule is deliberately aggressive. After London on 10 June come Jeddah (14 June), Dubai (18 June), Cairo (25 June), Madrid (17 July) and Manchester (23 July) \u2014 every one of them flown by the 787-9. It is a statement of intent rather than a cautious toe in the water.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"background: #f8f9fa; border-left: 4px solid #5C91FF; padding: 20px 22px; margin: 18px 0 24px; border-radius: 0 8px 8px 0; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.7; display: flex; gap: 20px; align-items: flex-start;\">\r\n<div><em>\u201cThis is just the beginning of our rapid expansion.\u201d<\/em>\r\n<div style=\"margin-top: 10px; font-size: 14px; color: #555;\"><strong>Tony Douglas<\/strong> \u2014 CEO, Riyadh Air<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<p>Douglas, who previously ran Etihad, knows exactly how hard it is to build a Gulf hub carrier from scratch \u2014 and how lucrative it can be if it works.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin: 0 0 24px;\"><img data-opt-id=1491032648  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" style=\"display: block; width: 100%!important; max-width: 100%!important; height: auto!important; border-radius: 6px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:0e0_.b970\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/jetflights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/06\/riyadh-air-787-livery.jpg\" alt=\"A Riyadh Air Boeing 787 in its lavender livery\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" \/>\r\n<figcaption style=\"font-size: 13px; color: #777; text-align: center; margin-top: 6px; font-style: italic;\">Riyadh Air\u2019s much-praised livery first appeared on a 787 at the Dubai Airshow in 2023, long before the airline carried a single passenger. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top: 22px;\">The Vision 2030 Bet<\/h2>\r\n<p>Riyadh Air is not really an airline project; it is a national one. Saudi Arabia wants to convert its geography \u2014 perched between Europe, Africa and Asia \u2014 into the same kind of connecting machine that made Dubai and Doha global names. The plan calls for Riyadh to handle vast passenger volumes and to anchor the kingdom\u2019s push to diversify away from oil.<\/p>\r\n<p>The obstacles are real: the Gulf hub market is crowded, the incumbents are formidable, and brand loyalty takes decades to build. But Riyadh Air has the one thing every startup airline dreams of \u2014 effectively bottomless backing \u2014 and, as of June 2026, it finally has passengers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; margin: 24px 0;\"><iframe class=\"skip-lazy\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0; border-radius: 8px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/b3-ZM1jlPIg\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-no-lazy=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"font-size: 13px; color: #777; font-style: italic;\">Sources: Riyadh Air; Public Investment Fund; AeroTime; One Mile at a Time; Aerospace Global News.<\/p>\r\n<!-- mf-faq -->\r\n\r\n\r\n<div class=\"mf-faq-block\"><style>.mf-faq-block{margin:34px 0}.mf-faq-item:not([open]) .mf-faq-answer{display:none !important}.mf-faq-block h2.mf-faq-h{padding-top:22px;margin-bottom:14px}.mf-faq-item{border:1px solid #e2e8f5;border-radius:8px;margin:0 0 10px;background:#fff}.mf-faq-item summary{list-style:none;cursor:pointer;padding:15px 50px 15px 18px;font-weight:600;color:#1a1a1a;position:relative;line-height:1.45;user-select:none}.mf-faq-item summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none}.mf-faq-item summary::after{content:\"+\";position:absolute;right:18px;top:50%;transform:translateY(-50%);font-size:1.5em;font-weight:400;color:#5C91FF;line-height:1}.mf-faq-item[open] summary::after{content:\"\\2013\"}.mf-faq-item[open] summary{border-bottom:1px solid #eef1f8}.mf-faq-item summary:hover{background:#f5f8ff}.mf-faq-answer{padding:14px 18px;color:#333;line-height:1.6}.mf-faq-answer p{margin:0}.mf-faq-answer a{color:#5C91FF}<\/style>\r\n<h2 class=\"mf-faq-h\">Related Questions<\/h2>\r\n<details class=\"mf-faq-item\">\r\n<summary>What is Riyadh Air?<\/summary>\r\n<div class=\"mf-faq-answer\">\r\n<p>Riyadh Air (RX) is Saudi Arabia\u2019s new flag carrier, wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund, the kingdom\u2019s sovereign wealth fund. It flew its first commercial flight, Riyadh to London Heathrow, on 10 June 2026, as a centrepiece of Saudi Vision 2030\u2019s push to turn Riyadh into a global hub.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/details><details class=\"mf-faq-item\">\r\n<summary>When did Riyadh Air start flying?<\/summary>\r\n<div class=\"mf-faq-answer\">\r\n<p>Riyadh Air operated its first commercial flight on 10 June 2026, from Riyadh to London Heathrow \u2014 a launch brought forward by about three weeks. The airline had previously <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/jetflights\/riyadh-air-first-commercial-flight-july-2026-saudi-arabia-vision-2030\/\">targeted a first passenger flight on 1 July<\/a> before accelerating the schedule.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/details><details class=\"mf-faq-item\">\r\n<summary>What aircraft does Riyadh Air fly?<\/summary>\r\n<div class=\"mf-faq-answer\">\r\n<p>Riyadh Air launched with the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, with its first three aircraft delivered in early June 2026. The widebody Dreamliner suits the long-haul routes the carrier is building from its Riyadh base.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/details><details class=\"mf-faq-item\">\r\n<summary>What are Riyadh Air\u2019s first routes?<\/summary>\r\n<div class=\"mf-faq-answer\">\r\n<p>Riyadh Air\u2019s launch routes include London, Jeddah, Dubai, Cairo, Madrid and Manchester. The network is designed to quickly establish Riyadh as a connecting hub between Europe, the Middle East and beyond.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/details><details class=\"mf-faq-item\">\r\n<summary>Who is the CEO of Riyadh Air?<\/summary>\r\n<div class=\"mf-faq-answer\">\r\n<p>Riyadh Air is led by chief executive Tony Douglas, formerly of Etihad Airways. He oversaw the carrier\u2019s build-up from a 2023 brand launch to its first flights in 2026.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/details><details class=\"mf-faq-item\">\r\n<summary>Who owns Riyadh Air?<\/summary>\r\n<div class=\"mf-faq-answer\">\r\n<p>Riyadh Air is wholly owned by Saudi Arabia\u2019s Public Investment Fund (PIF), the sovereign wealth fund driving many Vision 2030 projects. Like <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/jetflights\/qatar-airways-1-94-billion-profit-210-boeing-record-order-2026\/\">Gulf rival Qatar Airways<\/a>, it is backed by deep state resources and large aircraft orders.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/details><\/div>\r\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is Riyadh Air?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Riyadh Air (RX) is Saudi Arabia\u2019s new flag carrier, wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund, the kingdom\u2019s sovereign wealth fund. 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Like <a href=\\\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/jetflights\/qatar-airways-1-94-billion-profit-210-boeing-record-order-2026\/\\\">Gulf rival Qatar Airways<\/a>, it is backed by deep state resources and large aircraft orders.\"}}]}<\/script><!-- \/mf-faq -->\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"background: #f0f4ff; border-left: 4px solid #5C91FF; padding: 16px 20px; margin: 32px 0 8px; border-radius: 0 8px 8px 0;\">\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 8px; font-weight: 600; color: #333;\">Related Posts<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 4px 0;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/jetflights\/emirates-615-seat-a380-premium-economy-retrofit\/\">Emirates Guts Its 615-Seat Monster A380<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On 10 June 2026, a Boeing 787-9 in a striking deep-violet livery rolled to a stop at London Heathrow. For most travellers it was just another widebody from the Gulf. For the aviation industry, it was the moment a three-year-old PowerPoint finally became a real airline. That was Riyadh Air\u2019s first revenue flight \u2014 and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":2299967,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[665,670],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2300043","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aviation-world","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Riyadh Air Takes Off: London Heathrow First<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Riyadh Air&#039;s first revenue flight landed at Heathrow on 10 June 2026 \u2014 Saudi Arabia&#039;s new flag carrier enters the Gulf long-haul fight.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/jetflights\/riyadh-air-launch-787-london-first-routes-2026\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Riyadh Air Takes Off: London Heathrow First\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Riyadh Air&#039;s first revenue flight landed at Heathrow on 10 June 2026 \u2014 Saudi Arabia&#039;s new flag carrier enters the Gulf long-haul fight.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/jetflights\/riyadh-air-launch-787-london-first-routes-2026\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Afterburner - MiGFlug&#039;s Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MiGFlug\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-06-19T09:00:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-07-21T08:39:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:0e0_.b970\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/jetflights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/06\/riyadh-air-boeing-787-9-heathrow.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Connor Kerr\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@migflug\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@migflug\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Connor Kerr\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/jetflights\\\/riyadh-air-launch-787-london-first-routes-2026\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/jetflights\\\/riyadh-air-launch-787-london-first-routes-2026\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Connor Kerr\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/jetflights\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/bc7f2d09b1d7111c45fdb1335b8f2cf9\"},\"headline\":\"Riyadh Air Takes Off &#8211; 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