Photo: Shutterstock Virgin Atlantic Touches Down in Riyadh.
A Strategic Milestone in Global Expansion An historic milestone was marked last week in the Saudi Arabian capital, as Virgin Atlantic launched its first-ever direct flight from Riyadh to London, opening a new chapter in the airline's global growth strategy.
The inaugural daily service, operated by the modern and fuel-efficient Airbus A330neo, connects King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with London Heathrow. This new route is considered one of Virgin Atlantic's most significant strategic moves in 2025, reinforcing its presence in the Middle East.
The launch was celebrated with a ceremonial event at the airport, attended by senior company executives, Saudi aviation officials, and local partners. A ribbon-cutting, a specially designed celebratory cake, and emotional tributes accompanied the first takeoff. “It was incredibly moving to see our Virgin tailfin appear against the morning sky,” one executive shared. “And even more so to see it take off with our inaugural guests on board.”
Expanding into the Middle East This new route is part of Virgin Atlantic’s broader expansion into high-potential business and tourism destinations across the Middle East. It comes amid a period of growing international interest in Saudi Arabia as it opens up to the world through economic reforms and global partnerships. Within the next few weeks, the airline plans to hold a special celebratory event in Riyadh, promising a bold “Virgin-style” experience — much like the one held in Tel Aviv after the launch of its London route. "We are proud to bring our Saudi dream to life,” Virgin Atlantic said in a statement.
“As always – this is just the beginning.” The Skies Over Riyadh Get Busier Virgin Atlantic isn’t the only major player eyeing Riyadh.
Air France will soon launch its own direct route from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Riyadh, beginning with three weekly flights on May 19, 2025, and expanding to five flights per week from June 2, 2025. With this move, all three airlines in the Air France–KLM Group — Air France, KLM, and Transavia will operate services to Saudi Arabia.
Transavia France already flies to Jeddah from Paris Orly (ORY) and Lyon (LYS) since December 2024. KLM connects Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) to Riyadh and Dammam (King Fahd International Airport).
The Rise of Riyadh as a Global Aviation Hub Complementing this surge in international connectivity is the highly anticipated launch of Riyadh Air, the Kingdom’s new flagship airline. Set to begin operations by the end of 2025, Riyadh Air promises to redefine regional and global travel with bold branding, luxurious design, and ambitious service goals. Backed by Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, Riyadh Air aims to help transform the kingdom into a world-class aviation powerhouse, targeting:
A fleet of 132 advanced aircraft
Strategic global partnerships (including a deal with Delta Air Lines and Atlético Madrid’s stadium)
Fashion-forward crew uniforms and a long-term goal of attracting 150 million visitors annually and generating 200,000 new jobs in the aviation and tourism sectors In Summary With Virgin Atlantic’s entry, Air France’s expansion, and Riyadh Air’s impending debut, the Saudi capital is rapidly establishing itself as a premier global gateway.
