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JEDDAH- The national carrier of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabian Airlines (SV) or Saudia, plans to expand its presence at London Heathrow Airport (LHR). In a significant move, the airline has secured 14 weekly slots from Virgin Atlantic for the Summer 2025 season.
This development highlights Saudia’s commitment to strengthening its international operations, especially in Europe, where Heathrow remains a crucial hub for global connectivity.
Photo: Kevin Hackert | FlickrSaudia London Heathrow Slots
London Heathrow is among the world’s busiest and most competitive airports, with airlines constantly vying for valuable slots. Saudia already operates a strong schedule at Heathrow currently.
Saudia operates 16 weekly flights from Jeddah (JED) using mostly Boeing 787-9 and 787-10. From Riyadh, the airline operates 22 weekly flights using Boeing 777-200ER and 777-300ER.
With the addition of these newly leased 14 weekly slots (7 arrivals and 7 departures), Saudia is further solidifying its position in the UK market, ensuring more options for passengers traveling between Saudi Arabia and London.
As per the slot filing, Saudia plans to add another daily flight to Heathrow. The airline plans to add another daily flight from Riyadh using a Boeing 777-300ER.
Photo: By John Taggart from Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex – HZ-AK1927122013LHR, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31808612Why do Heathrow Slots Matter?
The landing slots at London Heathrow are among the most valuable in the world due to the airport’s congestion and strategic importance. Airlines must either buy, lease, or exchange slots to maintain a presence, and securing additional slots is a testament to an airline’s ambition and growth strategy.
By leasing slots from Virgin Atlantic, Saudia gains greater scheduling flexibility, potentially allowing it to increase frequencies on existing routes from Riyadh and Jeddah.
London is a major financial and tourism hub. More flights between Saudi Arabia and the UK will cater to the growing demand, driven by business travelers, tourists, and the increasing number of Saudi students studying in the UK.
Photo: By Mark Harkin – HZ-AK40 Boeing 777 Saudia, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=60482761Expansion and Vision 2030
This move aligns with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030, which aims to boost tourism, business travel, and international trade. As part of this strategy, the Saudi aviation sector is undergoing massive expansion. There are a few more new airport developments, including the upcoming Riyadh Mega Airport.
A major Fleet expansion is underway, with modern aircraft being added to enhance passenger experience. Saudi Arabia aims for improved global connectivity, ensuring Saudi Arabia becomes a key transit hub.
The increased flights to Heathrow will not only facilitate more tourism between the UK and Saudi Arabia but also support the growing number of UK businesses and investors engaging with the Saudi market.
Due to the ongoing crisis, UAE-based Airlines have canceled flights to Sudan | Photo: FlydubaiCompetition in the Gulf-UK Market
The lease of these slots also places Saudia in a stronger position to compete with regional giants like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad. These airlines already have a strong presence in the UK. Gulf carriers have traditionally dominated Heathrow’s long-haul market, and Saudia’s expansion signals its intent to capture a bigger share of premium and transit passengers.
The additional Heathrow slots will enable the airline to refine its offering and provide passengers with more seamless and convenient travel options. The Summer 2025 season starts shortly on 30th March 2025. However, the bookings for the new flights have not yet opened.
The airline is well in a position to increase frequencies on existing Jeddah-London and Riyadh-London routes to meet growing demand. The airline can also just adjust schedules to attract more premium and business travelers flying between Saudi Arabia and the UK.
Whatever the strategy, Saudia’s move to expand at London Heathrow signals a strong growth trajectory, reinforcing its ambition to be a leading global airline. Only time will tell how Saudia leverages these new slots.
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EXCLUSIVE: Virgin Atlantic Gets London Heathrow Slots from Emirates, EL AL and Saudia
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