Virgin Atlantic has announced the launch of a series of daily flights between King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and London Heathrow Airport, with the first flights taking off on March 30, 2025.
The announcement comes after the signing ceremony of the London Heathrow – Riyadh air route launch agreement between Mr. Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, and Mr. Majid Khan, CEO of the Air Connectivity Program, under the patronage of His Excellency Mr. Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb at the Ministry of Tourism headquarters in Riyadh.
Commenting on the announcement, Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss said: “We at Virgin Atlantic are proud to partner with the Saudi Air Connectivity Program and launch these new flights. Saudi Arabia is witnessing remarkable economic growth and tourism prosperity in line with its efforts to achieve the ambitious goals of Saudi Vision 2030. We look forward to introducing our customers in the United Kingdom to this country rich in vibrant culture and authentic heritage, in addition to its amazing archaeological sites listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and the attractive concerts and sporting events that make it the first destination for every traveler.” He added: “We are eagerly looking forward to launching this route in 2025, and to introducing our brand and the exceptional experience that has distinguished us and been honored with a number of awards. Our team looks forward to meeting you in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia very soon.”
For his part, the CEO of the Air Connectivity Program, Majid Khan, expressed his happiness with this cooperation and welcoming Virgin Atlantic to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He stressed that this cooperation will enhance air traffic and contribute effectively to establishing the Kingdom’s international presence and developing tourism by receiving visitors from the United Kingdom and other countries around the world. He added: “We look forward to strengthening our partnership with Virgin Atlantic in the future, and building new partnerships in the tourism and aviation systems, to ensure the highest levels of flexibility and the highest levels of quality, to enhance the Kingdom’s position as a leading global tourist destination.”
Virgin Atlantic’s fleet of aircraft includes three classes in each cabin: First Class (Upper Class), Business Class (Premium), and three levels of Economy Class, each of which is unique in its services to meet all needs. The company offers passengers a distinguished range of services and entertainment throughout the flight, such as complimentary food and drinks distributed in each cabin, a variety of the latest movies and programs, in addition to Wi-Fi service covering the entire fleet. Among the notable features of the First Class (Upper Class) on board the A330neo aircraft are the provision of fully flat beds, the exclusive “The Retreat Suite” in addition to “The Loft” area dedicated to sitting and communicating.
Virgin Atlantic flights will be direct from Riyadh to London Heathrow Airport, with a single flight duration of six hours and 50 minutes, and will be operated on the newest aircraft in Virgin Atlantic’s fleet, the Airbus A330neo, which is highly fuel efficient.
The flights are not limited to passengers, as the cargo capacity on board its new aircraft will double by 30 tonnes per flight, benefiting companies exporting and importing goods, such as fresh produce and specialised goods, including pharmaceuticals, to enable seamless shipping routes between Riyadh and key markets in the UK and US.
Route Riyadh (RUH) Departure Date March 30, 2025 Frequency Daily
Time LHR-RUH VS242 – 14:45 / 23:35 RUH – LHR VS243 – 01:25 / 07:00
Aircraft type
A330neo 32 seats in First Class (Upper Class), 46 seats in Business Class (Premium), and 184 seats in Economy Class (Delight, Classic and Light) in its three levels.
