What happened: Riyadh Air is increasing its Riyadh-London Heathrow service from seven to nine return flights a week from November 2, 2026.
Who is affected: Passengers travelling between Saudi Arabia and the UK, including business travellers, tourists and people visiting family.
Why it matters: The increase comes less than five months after Riyadh Air launched the Heathrow route and forms part of the airline’s wider plan to have almost 30 destinations available for sale by the end of 2026.
At a Glance
- Route: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to London Heathrow, UK
- Airline: Riyadh Air
- New schedule: From November 2, 2026
- Frequency: Nine return services a week
- Who is affected: Saudi-UK travellers, tourists and business passengers
- Business impact: More flight options between two major business centres
- What’s next: Riyadh Air is targeting almost 30 destinations by the end of 2026
Riyadh Air is adding more London Heathrow flights from November 2, 2026, increasing the route from seven to nine return services a week. The Saudi airline said the two additional services will operate on Mondays and Wednesdays, giving travellers more flexibility between Riyadh and London. The expansion comes only a few months after Riyadh Air launched its Heathrow service in June and as the carrier works towards having almost 30 destinations available for sale by the end of 2026.
When will Riyadh Air add the new London Heathrow flights?
The two additional return services will begin on November 2, 2026.
According to Riyadh Air, the new flights will operate on Mondays and Wednesdays. Outbound flights will leave Riyadh during the day, while the return services from London will operate overnight.
That will take the route from the current daily schedule of seven weekly return flights to nine.
For passengers, the additional frequencies mean more choice when planning short UK trips, business travel or longer stays.
Riyadh Air launched its London Heathrow route on June 10, 2026, making the latest increase a relatively quick expansion of an important international connection.
Why is Riyadh Air increasing its London service?
Riyadh Air said the additional flights are intended to meet demand on the Riyadh-London route while giving passengers more flexibility.
The airline’s chief executive, Tony Douglas, said the carrier has been building its presence in the UK since launching the London service, including through its Manchester operation.
London is also an important international business and tourism market for Saudi Arabia. Heathrow is one of the world’s major aviation hubs, giving the Riyadh route significance beyond direct travel between the two cities.
The increased frequency also comes as Riyadh Air continues to build its network from its Riyadh hub.
How quickly is Riyadh Air expanding its network?
The Heathrow expansion is part of a much wider rollout.
Riyadh Air currently operates eight aircraft across 14 destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, according to Saudi Press Agency reporting.
The carrier is targeting almost 30 destinations available for sale by the end of 2026.
Its UK network has already expanded beyond London. Manchester was added as another UK destination, giving passengers a second option for travelling between Saudi Arabia and Britain.
Riyadh Air has also been adding destinations in other parts of its network as it works towards its longer-term international expansion plans.
The airline’s stated ambition goes beyond its 2026 target. Riyadh Air has said it aims to connect Riyadh with more than 100 destinations by 2030.
What does the Heathrow expansion mean for travellers?
The immediate change is simple: there will be two more weekly return services between Riyadh and London Heathrow.
Passengers who need to travel on a Monday or Wednesday can have more scheduling options, while the wider nine-flight weekly timetable provides greater flexibility when choosing travel dates.
Heathrow also lists Riyadh Air at Terminal 4, which is useful information for passengers travelling from London.
The airline operates its international network with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, including on its London service. Published flight times for the route are around seven hours, although exact timings can vary depending on the individual service and operating conditions.
Travellers should check their booking details for the latest departure and arrival times before travelling.
What does Riyadh Air’s growth mean for the wider region?
Riyadh Air is being developed as part of Saudi Arabia’s broader aviation and tourism expansion.
The airline’s growing network is designed to strengthen Riyadh’s position as an international connecting hub while supporting travel into and out of the Kingdom.
For the wider GCC, stronger connections through Riyadh could also create more travel choices for passengers moving between the Gulf, Europe and Asia.
The expansion is particularly relevant as Saudi Arabia continues to develop its tourism, business and aviation sectors under its wider economic diversification plans.
For UAE residents, the developments are worth watching because Riyadh is a major regional travel and business destination. Additional international connectivity through Saudi Arabia could provide another option for travellers planning trips between the Gulf and European markets.
The Riyadh Air London Heathrow expansion gives travellers two additional weekly return services from November 2.
For UAE residents and other GCC travellers, the broader network growth is relevant as Riyadh Air adds more international destinations and builds Riyadh into a larger aviation hub.
For businesses, increased connectivity can provide more scheduling flexibility for travel between Saudi Arabia and the UK. For tourists, the extra flights offer more choice when planning London trips.
The next major milestone will be Riyadh Air’s target of having almost 30 destinations available for sale by the end of 2026.
FAQs
How many Riyadh Air flights will operate between Riyadh and London Heathrow?
Riyadh Air will operate nine return services per week between Riyadh and London Heathrow from November 2, 2026.
When will Riyadh Air’s additional Heathrow flights start?
The two additional weekly services will start on November 2, 2026.
Which days will the additional Riyadh Air Heathrow flights operate?
The additional flights will operate on Mondays and Wednesdays, taking the route from seven to nine weekly return services.
When did Riyadh Air launch its London Heathrow route?
Riyadh Air launched its London Heathrow service on June 10, 2026.
How many destinations is Riyadh Air targeting in 2026?
Riyadh Air aims to have almost 30 destinations available for sale by the end of 2026. The airline has a longer-term goal of connecting Riyadh with more than 100 destinations by 2030.
Riyadh Air’s decision to increase its London Heathrow service to nine weekly return flights marks another step in the Saudi carrier’s rapid international network expansion. With further destinations being added across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, the airline is continuing to build its Riyadh hub and work towards its 2026 network target.
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