·
Memorandum of Understanding
outlines collaboration plans for codeshare and interline agreements, and
collaboration on multiple other areas
·
Partnership
supports business, tourism, and family connections, reflecting the deep ties
between the two nations
GURUGRAM : 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
MoU reflects the shared ambition of both full-service premium carriers to boost
global connectivity for travellers flying between India, Saudi Arabia, and
beyond, leveraging the geographical advantages of their hubs at Delhi, Mumbai,
and Riyadh.
Subject
to regulatory approvals, Air India and Riyadh Air intend to introduce interline
and codeshare arrangements that will enable guests to travel seamlessly across
each other’s networks with the convenience of a single booking and smoother
onward connections via their respective hubs .
The
two airlines will also explore collaboration across a range of areas, including
reciprocal loyalty programme benefits, cargo services, operational support and digital and technology initiatives
designed to enhance the guest experience. The partnership supports growing
demand for travel linked to business, tourism, and family visits, reflecting
the deep economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties between Saudi Arabia and
India.
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 of Riyadh Air, stated, “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. Today, the airline maintains 25 codeshare partnerships and
nearly 120+ interline agreements with leading carriers worldwide, providing
seamless access for Air India customers to over 1,000 destinations globally.
Riyadh Air has
recently launched public sales on its website and app for flights to London
Heathrow, with inaugural flights set to take off on July 1. This new route
offers Indian guests, via seamless connections through Riyadh, a direct gateway
to the United Kingdom and Europe, further expanding the possibilities for
business, leisure, and family travel.