Virgin Atlantic has officially launched its daily flights between London Heathrow and Riyadh, marking a major expansion of air connectivity between the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.
The inaugural flight, operated by the airline’s newest A330neo aircraft, landed at King Khalid International Airport this morning with Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson onboard.
This milestone comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is transforming its tourism and aviation sectors as part of Vision 2030. The arrival of Virgin Atlantic aligns with the Kingdom’s ambitions to become a leading global destination for leisure, business, and cultural travel.
A Symbolic First Touchdown
In a press release provided by Virgin Atlantic, Sir Richard Branson described the moment as a timely entry into a country undergoing rapid growth and transformation.
“Virgin Atlantic has arrived in Riyadh, and I’m pleased to mark the launch of this route at such a time of transformation and growth in Saudi Arabia. I know our new Saudi customers are going to love the Virgin Atlantic experience,” said Branson.
The new route connects Riyadh directly to one of the world’s busiest hubs, allowing travelers from Saudi Arabia seamless access to London and 12 onward destinations in North America through Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines, including New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Miami.
Saudi officials highlighted the strategic importance of the launch. His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Saudi Tourism Authority, called the new service “the next chapter in the country’s emergence as a premier global destination.”
“Saudi is inspiring tourists from across the globe. In 2024 alone, Saudi welcomed 128 million air passengers, marking a growth rate of 15 percent compared to 2023,” he said. Al Khateeb noted that the UK is among Saudi’s top priority tourism markets, with air travel between the two countries forecast to grow by 24 percent by 2035.
Passengers flying the route will experience Virgin Atlantic’s newest A330neo aircraft, featuring a range of cabin upgrades including the Upper Class Retreat Suite, a new social space known as The Loft, and custom service elements tailored for Saudi travelers, such as Halal meals and locally relevant entertainment options.
The airline promises a personalized experience in every class, with complimentary food and drink, 300 hours of in-flight entertainment, and fully connected Wi-Fi throughout the fleet.
Virgin Atlantic also announced cooperation with SkyTeam partner Saudia, creating additional connection options for passengers traveling within the Kingdom.
Beyond passenger services, the airline will offer 30 tonnes of cargo capacity per flight, benefiting industries reliant on export and import flows such as agriculture and pharmaceuticals.
The new service will support not just tourism, but also the large and growing number of Saudi nationals residing in the UK, as well as increasing business travel and cargo trade between the two countries.
The Riyadh launch represents a redefined narrative around Saudi Arabia as a destination. From UNESCO heritage sites and scenic highlands to global events like MDLBEAST and the Saudi Grand Prix, the Kingdom is positioning itself as a place of discovery for travelers seeking culture, nature, and innovation.
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