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Riyadh Air Launches Direct Manchester Flights
Riyadh Air launched its new Manchester service on Thursday. The new route operates from Manchester T2 to Riyadh’s King Khalid Airport three times per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays:
| Flight | Route | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|
| RX0417 | Riyadh to Manchester | 01:30 | 06:40 |
| RX0418 | Manchester to Riyadh | 08:40 | 17:20 |
This complements the daily Heathrow service, which launched in June.
The route will operate on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which has Business, Premium Economy, and Economy. You can also opt for Business Elite, the premium Business Class product with just four seats, located in the front row of the Business cabin.
Over the last few months, Riyadh Air have been adding more routes to the network. There are now onward connections to Jeddah and destinations across Asia, including Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Manila.
Fares from Manchester are mostly cheaper than Heathrow, with some bargains, especially in Business Class (return tickets seem much better value). We’ve spotted return Business Class fares starting from just £1,681, and Business Elite from £2,360. For comparison, Business fares from Heathrow start at £2,636.
A sale is also running until 23rd September, for travel until 15th December 2026. Bookings made during the promotion are up to 50% off and earn 2,300 bonus Sfeer Points.
New Train Service from Birmingham New Street to Manchester Airport to Launch
If you travel from the Midlands to Manchester Airport by train, things are about to get considerably easier. London Northwestern Railway (LNR) has announced a new hourly direct service from Birmingham New Street to Manchester Airport, starting in May 2027.
It will be the first direct rail service between the West Midlands and Manchester Airport for decades. It will make things easier if you already change trains at Birmingham New Street for Manchester Airport, removing the need to change at Crewe or Wilmslow, or go into Manchester and then back out to the airport.
The train will call at 17 stations, including Birmingham New Street, Tame Bridge Parkway, Darlaston, Willenhall, Wolverhampton, Stafford, Stone, Stoke-on-Trent, Longport, Kidsgrove, Alsager, Crewe, Sandbach, Holmes Chapel, Wilmslow, Styal and Manchester Airport.
It won’t be a particularly fast train, but at least you won’t need to change with luggage. The service is being described as an “attractive and affordable alternative“, so hopefully prices won’t be too high, though it would, of course, remove the cost and hassle of airport parking.
Sunday services between Crewe and Manchester Airport are due to increase from every two hours to hourly, with later evening services planned, with the final trains running until around 10 PM rather than 8 PM.
With new routes announced all the time, Manchester Airport is a compelling choice, as are the main London airports, especially if you live nearby or find a good deal. You can now choose from over 50 airlines to over 200 destinations, with some routes being the only direct long-haul options from the UK outside London. That’s in addition to the £1.5bn investment in the new Terminal 2.
Hilton Bonus Points Offer – Good Value?
Hilton’s Autumn promotion ‘More Points to Play’ is now live. From 15th October to 31st December, you can earn 3,000 bonus Hilton points for each stay at ‘luxury’ and ‘lifestyle’ category properties, plus participating resorts and all-inclusive hotels.
- Luxury: Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, LXR, Signia, and NoMad.
- Lifestyle: Curio Collection, Canopy, Graduate, Motto, Tempo, Outset, AutoCamp, YOTEL, Tapestry and Explora Journeys.
Make sure you check the list of participating properties before you stay.
For stays at other Hilton brands, you’ll earn 1,000 bonus points.
As usual, you’ll have to register for the promotion to receive bonus points. Cash and redemption stays are eligible.
Unfortunately, this promotion is not particularly good value, especially if you’re not staying at a ‘luxury’, ‘lifestyle’ or all-inclusive property.
Even with 3,000 points, the maximum return is £10-£11, so it’s certainly not worth switching your stay to a Hilton.
However, it’s 100% worth registering, as Hilton points can add up quickly. If you already have a stay booked, you can still benefit, and there’s no limit on how many stays you can use to earn the bonus.
