Air India and Saudia sign codeshare agreement

Air India, India’s leading global airline, and Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, have signed a codeshare agreement that will take effect in February.

Key Highlights
- Effective Date: February 2026
- Scope: Expands connectivity between India and Saudi Arabia, with future plans to extend to select international destinations.

Benefits for passengers:
- Streamlined booking and ticketing under a single itinerary
- Smooth connections with baggage check-through to final destination
- Greater flexibility with codeshare flights on the Jeddah–Riyadh route

Network Expansion
For Air India passengers:
- Seamless onward connections from Jeddah or Riyadh to Saudi cities like Dammam, Abha, Gassim, Gizan, Madinah, and Taif.
v For Saudia passengers:
- Access to major Indian cities via Mumbai and Delhi, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Kochi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Lucknow, Jaipur, and more than 15 other destinations.

Leadership Statements
Campbell Wilson (CEO & MD, Air India):
Highlighted Saudi Arabia as a key Middle Eastern market and emphasized the partnership’s role in serving the Indian diaspora and boosting tourism.

Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar (Director General, Saudia Group):
Called the agreement a strategic step forward, noting Saudia’s 60+ years of presence in India and the ease of travel with e-visas, stopover visas, and visa-on-arrival for eligible Indian passport holders.

Strategic Context
- Since its privatisation in 2022, Air India has expanded rapidly, now maintaining 24 codeshare partnerships and nearly 100 interline agreements, giving customers access to over 800 destinations worldwide.

This partnership is a big win for both airlines, strengthening ties between India and Saudi Arabia while offering travelers more convenience and choice.