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Virgin Atlantic has announced the launch of daily flights between King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and London Heathrow, with the first flight scheduled for March 30, 2025.
This announcement follows a signing ceremony between Virgin Atlantic and the Saudi Air Connectivity Program, attended by Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, and Majed Khan, CEO of the Air Connectivity Program, under the patronage of His Excellency Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khatib, Minister of Tourism, at the Ministry of Tourism headquarters in Riyadh.
The new service aims to capitalize on the significant growth as part of Saudi Vision 2030. Air travel between the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia is expected to grow by 24% between 2019 and 2035, while annual trade between the UK and Saudi Arabia was valued at £17.1 billion in 2023, with the ambition to reach £30 billion by 2030.
Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, commented: “It’s an incredibly exciting time to be launching flights to Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom is undergoing immense growth with the ambitious Saudi Vision 2030 and is opening itself up to tourism and visitors like never before. We look forward to introducing our UK customers to this fascinating country, its culture and heritage, the stunning UNESCO World Heritage sites, and the sporting and music events that are making the destination famous.”
“We see huge opportunities to connect friends, relatives, and businesses with our new services in both the UK and the US through our partnership with Delta Air Lines. We will also build on our codeshare with SkyTeam partner Saudia, further strengthening connectivity in the region and beyond, and bringing new benefits to our loyal customers. We are excited to launch this new route in 2025, introducing the iconic Virgin Atlantic brand, award-winning experience, and our amazing people to new customers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Majid Khan, CEO of the Air Connectivity Program, said: “We are delighted to welcome Virgin Atlantic to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With Virgin Atlantic’s entry on the London Heathrow-Riyadh route, our Air Connectivity will further enhance and support the growth of international inbound tourism to Saudi Arabia from the UK and Virgin Atlantic’s North American network. We look forward to further strengthening our partnership with Virgin Atlantic in the coming years and continuing to develop Air Connectivity to Saudi Arabia.”
New connectivity from Saudi Arabia to the UK and beyond
The non-stop service from Riyadh to London Heathrow will take six hours and 50 minutes, operating on the airline’s state-of-the-art A330neo, the newest and most fuel-efficient aircraft in Virgin Atlantic’s fleet. Heathrow Airport is just 15 minutes from Central London, making it easy to visit the UK’s arts, culture, and entertainment capital, as well as providing convenient connections to the city’s business and financial center. The new service will also offer Saudi customers the opportunity to connect to destinations throughout North America across the Virgin Atlantic and Delta networks, including Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle, Boston, and Detroit.
In addition to passenger services, Virgin Atlantic will offer 30 tonnes of cargo capacity on each flight for companies looking to export and import goods, including fresh produce and specialized items such as pharmaceuticals, between Riyadh and prime markets in the UK and US.
Introducing the world-famous Virgin Atlantic experience
Founded by Sir Richard Branson in 1984, Virgin Atlantic is known for its innovation and exceptional customer service. The airline offers three cabin classes—Upper Class, Premium, and Economy—each delivering unique experiences. With complimentary food and drink in every cabin, served by the airline’s award-winning cabin crew, and over 300 hours of the latest films, TV shows, and music, Virgin Atlantic’s fully connected Wi-Fi fleet ensures a memorable journey.
Upper Class offers fully flat beds, and on the A330neo, The Retreat Suite is Virgin Atlantic’s largest-ever business class seat. The onboard social space, The Loft, provides customers with opportunities to conduct business meetings, catch up with friends and family, or simply relax. Upper Class customers also enjoy access to a private security channel at London Heathrow, the world-famous Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, and a Revivals lounge for freshening up before heading into London. The airline prides itself on delivering a personalized experience, evolving its onboard food and beverage offerings, including Halal meals, local inflight entertainment, and training cabin crew in local customs and preferences.
