Air India and Riyadh Air have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the foundation for a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing connectivity between India, Saudi Arabia, and destinations beyond.
The agreement reflects the shared ambition of both full-service carriers to offer travellers greater convenience and seamless travel options by leveraging their respective hubs in Delhi, Mumbai, and Riyadh.
Subject to regulatory approvals, the two airlines plan to introduce interline and codeshare arrangements that will allow passengers to travel across both networks through a single booking, while benefiting from smoother onward connections.
Beyond network integration, Air India and Riyadh Air will explore opportunities for collaboration across several areas, including reciprocal loyalty programme benefits, cargo operations, operational support, and digital and technology initiatives designed to improve the overall guest experience.
The partnership is expected to support growing travel demand driven by business, tourism, and family visits, while further strengthening the economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties between India and Saudi Arabia.
Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, said, “India and Saudi Arabia are two important growth markets in global aviation today, and the scale and momentum in both countries make this a natural partnership. We look forward to working with Riyadh Air to bring together complementary strengths of the two airlines to unlock that opportunity with a focus on offering our guests more choice across our combined networks and elevating their travel experiences.”
Tony Douglas, CEO, Riyadh Air, said, “India is one of the most important and dynamic aviation markets in the world, and this partnership with Air India marks a defining step in Riyadh Air’s mission to connect Saudi Arabia with key global destinations. Together, we will offer guests a seamless, world-class experience that reflects the deep cultural and economic bonds shared between our two nations.”
Since its privatisation in 2022, Air India has significantly expanded its global alliance network and currently maintains 25 codeshare partnerships and more than 120 interline agreements with leading airlines worldwide, providing access to over 1,000 destinations globally.
Meanwhile, Riyadh Air has recently opened public sales for its flights to London Heathrow, with inaugural services scheduled to commence on July 1. Through Riyadh, the new route will provide Indian travellers with enhanced access to the United Kingdom and Europe, creating additional opportunities for business, leisure, and family travel.
The MoU marks another step-in strengthening aviation ties between India and Saudi Arabia while expanding travel options for passengers across both markets.
