Three New Long-Haul Entrants Launch At London Heathrow On The Same Day
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On Sunday, October 26, as airlines switch to the IATA winter timetable, London Heathrow (LHR) will see something rare: three new long-haul airlines starting service on the same day. Riyadh Air, Air Peace, and IndiGo will all touch down at Heathrow with scheduled passenger flights, adding capacity and choice on routes from Riyadh (RUH), Abuja (ABV), and Mumbai (BOM) respectively.
Heathrow’s slot scarcity is legendary, yet carriers can still enter the market via a mix of slot leases, secondary trading, and seasonal pool allocations. The result on October 26 will underscore why Heathrow consistently ranks among the world’s busiest widebody airports by movements and seats per departure.
Riyadh Air: Daily Riyadh (RUH) – London Heathrow (LHR)
First arrival: 07:30 (local) into Terminal 4
Flights: RX401 RUH → LHR (dep 03:15), RX402 LHR → RUH (dep 09:30; arr 19:15 local)
Equipment: Initially a Boeing 787-9 under interim lease; Riyadh Air’s own fleet will follow
Riyadh Air’s launch brings the fourth operator on the RUH–LHR city pair, joining British Airways, Saudia, and Virgin Atlantic. With multiple daily departures across the group, travelers gain schedule breadth and connectivity into banked waves at both ends. Until its in-house aircraft arrive, the airline plans to operate with a two-class 787-9, a type known for long-haul efficiency, strong belly-cargo capability, and lower cabin noise compared to earlier-generation twins.
Air Peace: Abuja (ABV) – London Heathrow (LHR) Three Days A Week
First arrival: 16:30 (local) into Terminal 3
Flights & times (local):
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Fridays: P47576 ABV 11:30 → LHR 17:00
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Saturdays: P47576 ABV 11:20 → LHR 16:30
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Sundays: P47576 ABV 11:20 → LHR 16:30
Returns: P47577 LHR 21:10 → ABV 04:20+1 on Fridays/Saturdays/Sundays
Equipment: Boeing 777-200ER
Abuja (ABV) has long been a high-yield UK market with sustained premium demand. Air Peace will compete directly with British Airways for the first time in over a decade on the ABV–LHR nonstop, deploying the 777-200ER, a long-range twin favored for its payload-range performance and generous cargo volume. The carrier will concurrently operate Abuja – London Gatwick (LGW) on separate days, reflecting ongoing slot constraints at Heathrow and a strategy to retain London access across two airports.
IndiGo: Daily Mumbai (BOM) – London Heathrow (LHR)
First arrival: 19:20 (local) into Terminal 3
Flights (October 26 example): 6E1 BOM 14:45 → LHR 19:20; 6E2 LHR 21:30 → BOM 11:45+1
Equipment: Boeing 787-9 operated for IndiGo under ACMI (338 seats, two-class)
Slots: Operated using leased slot pairs
Mumbai (BOM) – London Heathrow (LHR) is one of the busiest India–UK corridors, already served by Air India, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and a fifth-freedom operator on select days. IndiGo’s daily entry elevates total nonstop frequencies and introduces a product built around the 787-9, whose long-haul economics and high-density layout suit both VFR and corporate flows. Schedules will vary slightly day-to-day, a common feature of slot-constrained hubs.
Why This Matters For Heathrow (LHR)
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Network depth on key city pairs: More frequency and carrier choice on RUH–LHR, ABV–LHR, and BOM–LHR supports both premium and leisure demand, plus consistent cargo uplift.
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Slot utilization: Heathrow’s 80% “use-it-or-lose-it” rule incentivizes regular operation, which should translate into reliable schedules once initial proving and crew training flights settle.
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Product variety: The day’s newcomers lean on modern long-haul types—primarily the Boeing 787-9 and Boeing 777-200ER—bringing competitive cabins, Wi-Fi, and lower noise footprints.
Bottom Line
On October 26, London Heathrow (LHR) welcomes three long-haul entrants in a single day—Riyadh Air from Riyadh (RUH), Air Peace from Abuja (ABV), and IndiGo from Mumbai (BOM)—a striking reminder that even at a capacity-constrained hub, new service can still break through via leased and traded slots. Expect a brisk start-up phase, followed by steady schedules that expand traveler choice and sustain Heathrow’s position as one of the world’s most densely scheduled widebody airports.
