London Heathrow in 2025: Four New Airlines Join the Battle for Slots

Mr Plane Guy
Aug 21
6 min read

London Heathrow in 2025: Four New Airlines Join the Battle for Slots

By Mr Plane Guy

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London Heathrow is many things: a global hub, a frequent flyer’s second home, and for most of us, a place where you spend half your time staring at the Heathrow departures board wondering why your gate still says “TBA.” But above all, it’s one of the most busiest airports in the world. Slots here aren’t just valuable, they’re gold dust. Airlines fight tooth and nail to get a piece of the Heathrow action, and in 2025, four new contenders are lining up to do exactly that: Air Peace, Alaska Airlines, IndiGo, and Riyadh Air.

Why Heathrow Slots Are So Coveted

If you’re not familiar with Heathrow’s slot game, here’s the quick version: airlines can’t just decide to rock up at Heathrow with a shiny new jet and start flying. Every takeoff and landing is controlled through a slot system, and because Heathrow is basically full, the only way in is to buy, lease, or inherit them. Prices can reach tens of millions per slot pair that’s more than the cost of the aircraft sometimes.

So why do airlines bother? Simple. Heathrow is one of the busiest international hubs on earth. The demand for both Heathrow arrivals and Heathrow departures is insane. It’s the airport business travellers love (or at least tolerate), leisure passengers crave for connectivity, and airlines dream about because it’s a guaranteed prestige route.

But it’s also risky. Get it wrong here and you’ve wasted millions trying to stand out in a field dominated by British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and their powerful transatlantic partners.

The Newcomers: Who’s Flying Into Heathrow in 2025

Air Peace – Abuja to London Heathrow

Air Peace is Nigeria’s largest airline, and this October, it’s making a big move into Heathrow with flights from Abuja. Until now, Nigerian routes to the UK have been the stronghold of BA and Virgin Atlantic, with Nigerian carrier Air Peace often overlooked compared to the bigger Gulf airlines serving West Africa.

Launching flights into Heathrow gives Air Peace prestige but also a challenge: how do you stand out when passengers are so used to flying with BA or connecting through Doha with Qatar Airways? Price, reliability, and cultural connection could be their ace cards.

Alaska Airlines – Daily Seattle to Heathrow

Next up, we’ve got a surprise player from across the pond: Alaska Airlines. Known mostly as a domestic U.S. carrier, Alaska is dipping its toes into the transatlantic pond with a daily Seattle to London Heathrow service from May.

Now, Seattle is already served by British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Delta. That’s three heavyweights Alaska is about to go head-to-head with. But Alaska isn’t entirely flying blind: it’s part of the Oneworld alliance, which means passengers can connect onto British Airways and other partners’ flights at Heathrow. Still, the route will live or die on whether Alaska can lure customers with its West Coast loyalty base and competitive pricing.

IndiGo – Delhi to Heathrow

Here’s one of the most fascinating developments: IndiGo, India’s biggest low-cost carrier, will finally touch down at Heathrow, connecting Delhi with London. But IndiGo doesn’t have its own long-haul fleet (yet), so it’s expected to lease in Norse Atlantic Boeing 787-9s to operate the route.

The Delhi–Heathrow corridor is already busy, by the time IndiGo arrives, this will be the eighth daily flight between the two cities. Competition comes from BA, Virgin Atlantic, Air India, and Vistara. So IndiGo will need to undercut on price while convincing passengers that a low-cost model can work for an ultra-long-haul journey.

Still, given its massive dominance in India, IndiGo has a loyal customer base. If it can transfer some of that brand power to international markets, it could work.

Riyadh Air – The New Saudi Challenger

Last but not least, we’ve got the newcomer with the deepest pockets: Riyadh Air. Backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, this airline hasn’t even launched yet, but it’s already making waves. Heathrow is expected to be one of its first long-haul destinations when it begins operations in late 2025 or early 2026.

The airline will likely take over slots released by BA, and with brand-new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, it plans to position itself as a luxury carrier connecting Riyadh with the world. But let’s be real, this is going to be a battle with Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad, all of whom have spent decades building reputations as the go-to Middle Eastern carriers for London flyers.

Riyadh Air’s success will depend on whether it can build loyalty fast and deliver a service polished enough to tempt travellers away from Dubai and Doha.

What This Means for Passengers

For us travellers, more airlines at Heathrow is only a good thing. More competition means lower fares, more choice, and the possibility of fresh cabin products.

If you’re a frequent flyer, you’ll want to keep an eye on how these airlines fit into alliances. Alaska’s Oneworld tie-in could be a game-changer if you’re chasing BA Tier Points. IndiGo’s arrival may not come with the bells and whistles of a premium carrier, but it could open the door to cheap long-haul fares to India.

Of course, if you’re heading through Heathrow, you’ll need to think about your airport experience. Heathrow can be a stressful place, so why not escape the chaos in a lounge?

Because let’s be honest, nothing takes the sting out of a delayed Heathrow departure like free snacks, Wi-Fi, and maybe a glass (or three) of wine.

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London Heathrow Lounge Reviews

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The Bigger Picture: Heathrow’s Future

The addition of four new airlines in such a short space of time shows just how much demand Heathrow still commands. Despite political wrangling over expansion, environmental pressures, and competition from other European hubs like Paris and Amsterdam, Heathrow remains the jewel in the crown of global aviation.

But with Heathrow arrivals and departures already squeezed, these new entrants face an uphill battle. Passengers will benefit from lower fares and more choice, but not every airline may stick it out for the long haul.

The next 18 months are going to be fascinating. Will Alaska crack the transatlantic? Will IndiGo prove a low-cost long-haul model can work at Heathrow? Will Air Peace challenge the dominance of BA and Virgin? And can Riyadh Air genuinely build a Middle Eastern superbrand in record time?

One thing’s for sure: Heathrow isn’t getting any less competitive, and for aviation fans like me, that’s exactly what makes it so exciting.

Final Boarding Call

London Heathrow is already a circus of widebodies, alliances, and constant announcements over the PA system. Now, with four new airlines entering the mix, it’s going to get even busier and a lot more interesting.

So the next time you’re staring at the Heathrow departures board, keep an eye out for those new names. They might just be the start of your next adventure.

And if you are passing through Heathrow soon, do yourself a favour and check out a lounge. Trust me, it’s the best decision you’ll make all day.

The Best Lounges at Heathrow – Ranked from Champagne to Chaos.

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Hello, I’m Paul a professional jet-setter and all-around plane travel pro. After 15 years working in and around planes, I became a flight delay expert at a London Airport and mastered plane travel hacks, a PLANE flight expert with BIG travel plans but small carry-on.

Now, I share PLANE travel news, tips, reviews, and deals with honesty, humour, and zero baggage! Thanks for reading London Heathrow in 2025: Four New Airlines Join the Battle for Slots.

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