Riyadh Air, a sensational rumor goes around: what plane (and whose company) it will be forced to debut with

Time is running out, but the announcement has now been made: Riyadh Air, the Saudis declared a few weeks ago, Will launch its operations by the end of 2025.

Not only that. will receive one Boeing 787-9 per month, simultaneously launching two new destinations per month, said CEO Tony Douglas.

But, indeed, time is running out. And all the airlines are having problems with delivery times for Boeing 787s. Add to that, it is news these hours, the carrier has secured a pair of daily slots at London's Heathrow airport, starting next Oct. 26 (i.e., coinciding with the start of Winter 2025-2026). Which is less than three months away.

Britain's Airport Coordination Limited has unveiled that Riyadh Air will operate Flight RX401 to London as a night connection With landing at LHR around 7:30 a.m., while the return flight rx402 will operate during the day with departure from London around 9:30 am.

Heathrow slots are subject to the '80/20 rule,' according to which if the company does not use at least 80% of them, it loses them. And given how much they cost and how difficult it is to get them, it is very unlikely that Riyadh Air will let them slip through their fingers because time is running out and they may not have 'their' aircraft by next October 26.

Thus, the hovering speculation is that the carrier may be forced to launch flights to London with only the aircraft currently in its possession: A Boeing 787-9 acquired by Oman Air a few months ago and used for crew training and for obtaining the Air Operator Certificate (AOC), the Aircraft Operator Certificate.

The aircraft is in two classes, with Oman Air interiors: which means a 30-seat Business with Apex Suites in a 2-2-2 configuration, but contrary to what one might expect is a really TOP business and 258 seats in Economy (3-3-3) for a total of 288.

A high-level product, but completely different from the unveiled with pomp and circumstance in Riyadh a few weeks ago., which provides a four-class layout with 4 seats in Business Elite (1-2-1), 24 seats in Business Class (1-2-1), 39 seats in Premium Economy (2-3-2) e 223 in Economy (3-3-3) for a total of 290 seats.

Moreover, the debut with an Oman Air aircraft would represent. yet another hoax for a carrier that officially made its first flight (without passengers) with a Dreamliner from Saudia and at the last Paris Air Show it brought a 787 in its colors, but not its own.