Air India and Riyadh Air have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the foundation for a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening air connectivity between India, Saudi Arabia, and destinations beyond. The agreement reflects the shared ambition of both full-service carriers to enhance global connectivity and create seamless travel experiences for passengers through their respective hubs in Delhi, Mumbai, and Riyadh.
Subject to regulatory approvals, the partnership will pave the way for interline and codeshare arrangements, enabling passengers to travel across both airlines’ networks through a single booking while benefiting from smoother onward connections. The collaboration is expected to support the growing demand for travel driven by business, tourism, and family visits, further strengthening the deep economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties between India and Saudi Arabia.
Beyond passenger connectivity, Air India and Riyadh Air will explore cooperation across several key areas, including reciprocal loyalty programme benefits, cargo services, operational support, and digital and technology initiatives designed to enhance the guest experience.
Commenting on the partnership, 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.”
The partnership leverages the strategic importance of the two rapidly growing aviation markets and will provide travellers with expanded network access and enhanced connectivity options. Since its privatisation in 2022, Air India has significantly expanded its international partnership network, maintaining 25 codeshare agreements and more than 120 interline partnerships that provide access to over 1,000 destinations worldwide.
The MoU marks an important step in strengthening aviation ties between India and Saudi Arabia while supporting future growth in passenger, cargo, and international travel connectivity.
