Air India and Riyadh Air Strengthen Travel Connectivity Between India and Saudi Arabia

Air India Partners with Riyadh Air to Expand Passenger and Cargo Networks

Air India and Riyadh Air have signed an agreement to strengthen connectivity among India, Saudi Arabia, and other international markets through future cooperation in passenger, cargo, and loyalty services.

The partnership will leverage the airlines’ respective hubs in Delhi, Mumbai and Riyadh to provide travellers with additional connectivity options and improved access to destinations across their combined networks.

Subject to regulatory approvals, the two carriers plan to introduce interline and codeshare arrangements that will allow passengers to book journeys across both airlines through a single ticket, while benefiting from smoother onward connections.

Beyond passenger services, Air India and Riyadh Air will explore collaboration in several areas, including reciprocal loyalty programme benefits, cargo operations, operational support, and digital and technology initiatives designed to improve the overall travel experience.

The agreement reflects growing travel demand between India and Saudi Arabia, driven by business travel, tourism, employment-related movement and family visits. It also highlights the increasing economic and cultural links between the two countries.

Commenting on the partnership, Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India, said that India and Saudi Arabia remain important aviation markets, creating opportunities for greater collaboration among airlines serving the region.

Tony Douglas, Chief Executive Officer of Riyadh Air, said the agreement represents an important step in connecting Saudi Arabia with key international markets and supporting travel demand between the two nations.

Since its privatisation in 2022, Air India has expanded its international partnership network and currently maintains 25 codeshare agreements and more than 120 interline partnerships, providing access to destinations across multiple global markets.

Riyadh Air has also recently opened bookings for its inaugural London Heathrow service, scheduled to commence on 1 July. The route is expected to provide travellers from India with additional one-stop connectivity options to the United Kingdom and Europe via Riyadh.

The partnership marks another step in strengthening air links between India and Saudi Arabia while supporting future growth in passenger and cargo traffic.

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