**Riyadh Air opens commercial sales for Riyadh–London Heathrow** On 19 May 2026, Riyadh Air, the new Saudi national carrier wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), opened public ticket sales for its daily service between Riyadh (King Khalid International Airport, RUH) and London Heathrow (LHR). Starting 1 July 2026, the route will be operated exclusively by next-generation Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, marking the airline's transition from operational readiness to full commercial launch on a G20 capital-to-capital corridor. **From ‘Jamila’ test flights to regular operations** Since 26 October 2025, Riyadh Air has been flying a daily Riyadh–London Heathrow service using its technical reserve 787-9, named ‘Jamila’, as part of the ‘Pathway to Perfect’ operational readiness programme. These flights were initially crew-training and procedure-validation sorties, but gradually opened to select passengers. Jamila flights remain bookable through approved travel partners until 30 June 2026. From 1 July, the schedule switches to production-standard 787-9s, ending the real-world trial phase and beginning regular commercial service with the full product suite. **Strategic G20 corridor and hub ambitions** Riyadh Air positions the Riyadh–London route as a cornerstone of its UK expansion, linking two G20 capitals and supporting investment and trade flows with London as a global financial centre. The airline also highlights the route's role in boosting bilateral tourism under Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 strategy, promoting Riyadh as a transit hub to destinations such as Jeddah, Cairo, and Dubai, with future expansion into Asia and Africa. For European travellers, Riyadh becomes a gateway to the Middle East and beyond. **Four-class cabin on the 787-9** The new 787-9s are configured in four classes: Business Elite (4 seats), Business (24 seats), Premium Economy (39 seats), and Economy (223 seats), totalling 290 seats. Business Elite and Business feature a 1-2-1 layout with Safran Unity lie-flat seats, direct aisle access, and large 4K screens (32-inch in Elite, 22-inch in Business). Premium Economy uses a 2-3-2 layout with Recaro PL3530 seats, winged headrests, and four USB-C ports per seat. Economy is 3-3-3 with Recaro R3 seats, six-way adjustable headrests, two USB-C ports, and 13.3-inch 4K screens. **Next-generation connectivity and IFE** Riyadh Air touts one of the world's most advanced in-flight entertainment systems, powered by Panasonic Avionics Astrova. The system offers over 500 movies, 600 TV series (from partners like Shahid, Disney+, HBO Max, Warner Bros.), 1,000 albums and playlists, Bluetooth headphone pairing, and 4K OLED displays. Free Wi-Fi via Viasat is available to loyalty programme members, with gate-to-gate connectivity. The airline's ‘Hafawa’ hospitality concept, inspired by Saudi tradition, includes Kayanee comfort kits, Disney amenity kits for children, premium dining, and John Horsfall bedding. **What this means for ATPL and ATC students** For ATPL students, this launch illustrates how a new airline builds a long-haul network from scratch, including fleet selection (787-9), cabin configuration decisions, and operational readiness programmes. ATC students can study the slot coordination and airspace integration of a new daily service between two major hubs (RUH and LHR), as well as the implications of a new Middle Eastern carrier on European traffic flows and hub competition.