Air India and Riyadh Air Sign Agreement to Expand Premium Travel Options Between India, Saudi Arabia, and Beyond

Air India, India’s leading global airline, and Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the foundation for a partnership that will offer guests seamless connections between India, Saudi Arabia, and destinations beyond.

The Agreement
- MoU signed to establish a strategic partnership between Air India and Riyadh Air.
- Aim: Seamless connections between India, Saudi Arabia, and destinations beyond, leveraging hubs in Delhi, Mumbai, and Riyadh.
- Subject to regulatory approvals, the airlines plan to introduce interline and codeshare arrangements for single-booking convenience and smoother onward connections.

Areas of Collaboration
- Reciprocal loyalty programme benefits.
- Cargo services cooperation.
- Operational support and digital/technology initiatives to enhance guest experience.

Strategic Importance
- Reflects growing demand for travel linked to business, tourism, and family visits, underpinned by strong India–Saudi ties.
- Air India already has 25 codeshare partnerships and 120+ interline agreements, giving access to 1,000+ destinations worldwide.
- Riyadh Air recently launched sales for its London Heathrow route, with inaugural flights on July 1, 2026, offering Indian travelers new gateways to the UK and Europe via Riyadh.

Leadership Voices
- Campbell Wilson (Air India CEO): Called India and Saudi Arabia “important growth markets” and emphasized unlocking opportunities with complementary strengths.
- Tony Douglas (Riyadh Air CEO): Highlighted India as a “defining step” in Riyadh Air’s mission to connect Saudi Arabia globally.

This partnership is a major step in premium aviation connectivity, positioning both carriers to capture the fast-growing traffic between India, Saudi Arabia, and onward destinations in Europe and beyond.