RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier Riyadh Air launched its first scheduled Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner service on Wednesday, marking a major milestone in the airline’s commercial rollout and the Kingdom’s ambition to become a global aviation hub.

The inaugural flight, RX401, departed King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and arrived at London Heathrow at 7:30 a.m. local time, according to a report by the Saudi Press Agency.