Riyadh Air adds Manchester route and advances London Heathrow launch after first 787 deliveries

Saudi Arabian start-up carrier Riyadh Air is to launch a new three-times-weekly service to Manchester from 23 July and has brought forward its full-service London Heathrow launch to 10 June, following the delivery of its first two Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

According to FlightGlobal, the Manchester route will position Riyadh as a connecting hub for onward services to Asian destinations including Islamabad, Dhaka, Lahore and Mumbai. The London Heathrow full-service launch has been advanced from a previously indicated start date of 1 July.

Chief executive Tony Douglas said the Manchester route had been carefully selected to serve a key market. "This route has been carefully selected to serve a key market for connecting the north of England to the Middle East, aligning with our ambition to become a global airline and a significant contributor to Vision 2030," he said.

Douglas also marked the significance of the first 787 deliveries. "To see our very first custom-built 787s touch down in Riyadh is a historic moment for us, and a momentous day for Saudi aviation," he said. "Not only are we building an airline, we are opening a new gateway to the world from the heart of the kingdom."

Riyadh Air has ordered up to 72 Boeing 787s and intends to operate to more than 100 destinations by 2030. The airline commenced early 787 flights to cities including London, Jeddah and Cairo ahead of its full-service launch.

The carrier is backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and forms a central part of the kingdom's Vision 2030 strategy to diversify its economy and develop Riyadh into a major international aviation hub. The addition of Manchester extends its UK footprint beyond London, targeting the significant travel demand generated by the north of England's large South Asian diaspora communities and business travellers.

Read the full route announcement and fleet delivery details in the full coverage.