Riyadh Air Reveals Details of Its First Flight, Airport Lounge, and Upcoming Loyalty Program

Riyadh Air, a start-up Saudi Arabian airline, is getting closer to flying. As that point draws nearer, the airline is sharing more details about what the experience will be like, including the outline of a loyalty program and a new lounge at its home base in Riyadh (RUH).

Here’s a look at all the latest details.

Riyadh Air Will Fly This Month, but There’s a Catch

Riyadh Air has announced that it will commence daily flights between Riyadh (RUH) and London Heathrow (LHR) on October 26, 2025.

The flights will operate according to the following schedule:

• Depart Riyadh (RUH) at 3:15 a.m. and arrive in London (LHR) at 7:30 a.m.
• Depart London (LHR) at 9:30 a.m. and arrive in Riyadh (RUH) at 7:15 p.m.

Flights will be operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, though it’s not one of the brand-new Dreamliners the carrier has on order directly from Boeing. As One Mile at a Time reports, this particular aircraft is an 8-year-old aircraft that previously flew for Oman Air and was acquired by Riyadh Air in January of this year.

The aircraft was acquired for use at air shows, crew training, and as a spare if needed. However, delivery delays for the 787-9 have resulted in Riyadh Air using it to launch its flight operations later this month. This aircraft is not equipped with Riyadh Air’s bespoke cabin products, which were revealed earlier this year. Instead, it features the same configuration as when it flew for Oman Air: 30 Apex Suites arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration in business class and 258 economy seats in a 3-3-3 layout.

Furthermore, the initial Riyadh Air flights will not be standard commercial flights that anyone can purchase a ticket for. Instead, they’ll be reserved for select groups of people, including airline and the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) employees and their families, available by invitation only.

The airline describes this plan as its “Pathway to Perfect,” during which it can get meaningful practice rounds under its belt before launching to the general public when its new aircraft are ready to fly.

A route to Dubai (DXB) will be added soon after the London route begins operations, and we expect the carrier to announce additional routes shortly.

Riyadh Air’s Sfeer Loyalty Program

In addition to its first routes, Riyadh Air has announced that its loyalty program will be called “Sfeer,” which translates to “ambassador” in Arabic.

The airline promises that it will be “one of the world’s most unique and exciting loyalty programs, seamlessly combining community engagement with gamified experiences, all while unlocking the very best of Saudi,” according to a press release.

It didn’t share the nitty-gritty details of earning and redeeming points. Still, it did reveal that the program will launch with an innovative sharing feature, allowing members to share points, benefits, and qualifying spend with friends or family, elevating their flying experience. Also, points earned within the Sfeer program will not expire.

Registration is open now for the Sfeer program. Those who sign up immediately will be part of a special group, known as “The Founders,” who will receive “priority access to bookings on future flights, along with other benefits set to be announced soon.”

All Sfeer members will receive invitations to events and experiences, free inflight Wi-Fi, and more.

An Exclusive Lounge in Riyadh

We’re not done yet. This week, Riyadh Air also shared details of its all-new premium lounge at its Riyadh hub. Known as the Hafawa Lounge (“Hafawa” translates to a sense of warmth and hospitality in English), the space will be located between terminals 1 and 2 at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport.

The 21,500-square-foot space will be reserved exclusively for the carrier’s business class passengers, including those flying in the “Business Elite” product (these are the 4 seats in the first row of the cabin that boast elevated features and the ability to create a double bed from the middle 2 seats).

Guests can also expect a welcome experience featuring Saudi Arabian coffee and dates.

After that, guests can explore the lounge’s distinct zones, which will include family rooms, private rooms, an immersive digital experience room, and more.

The lounge will offer both à la carte and buffet dining options. Elsewhere, guests can enjoy barista-prepared coffees, freshly baked pastries and small bites, hand-crafted mocktails, and more.

The Hafawa Lounge is expected to open when Riyadh Air starts flying on October 26.

Final Thoughts

Things are coming together for Riyadh Air. We’ve been following the airline’s progress since it was first announced in 2023, and it will launch its inaugural flights at the end of this month — though they won’t be available to the general public yet. Additionally, we’ve received an initial glimpse of the carrier’s premium lounge at its Riyadh hub, which, at least on paper, appears quite impressive.

In addition, we’re learning more about the carrier’s Sfeer loyalty program, and we expect even more details surrounding it to emerge soon.

There will undoubtedly be much more news coming from Riyadh Air in the coming weeks, and we’ll be sure to cover it every step of the way.