Air India and Riyadh Air have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a comprehensive partnership that will introduce codeshare and interline agreements across their networks. The collaboration is designed to streamline travel between India and Saudi Arabia, offering passengers a single booking experience for itineraries connecting through the carriers' primary hubs in Delhi, Mumbai, and Riyadh.
This strategic alignment comes as both nations experience robust growth in aviation demand. The partnership aims to capture increasing traffic for business, tourism, and family visits, underpinned by deepening economic and cultural ties. Beyond the core codeshare and interline framework, the airlines will explore joint initiatives in loyalty programmes, cargo operations, and digital enhancements to elevate the guest experience.
Executive Perspectives on the Deal
Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India, underscored the significance of the agreement: “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.” Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, added, “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 return to private ownership in 2022, Air India has aggressively expanded its global alliance network, now counting 25 codeshare partnerships and over 120 interline agreements. This latest deal with Riyadh Air further extends the carrier's reach into the Middle East and beyond. Meanwhile, Riyadh Air has already launched ticket sales for flights to London Heathrow, with inaugural services scheduled for 1 July, providing Indian travellers a direct gateway to the UK and Europe via the Saudi capital.
The partnership is expected to unlock new route combinations and scheduling flexibility for both business and leisure travellers. For travel professionals, this means enhanced inventory options on key city pairs such as Delhi–Riyadh, Mumbai–Riyadh, and onward connections to destinations across Air India's domestic and international network, as well as Riyadh Air's future long-haul routes.
Industry observers note that the MoU aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 tourism goals and India's growing outbound travel market. The collaboration also complements broader trends in the region, including the rise of faith-based travel, which has seen a surge in bookings from India. For context, recent data shows that Gen Z drives 53% of India’s spiritual tourism bookings, a demographic that could benefit from improved air connectivity to Saudi Arabia's religious sites.
On the cargo front, the airlines will explore synergies to support trade flows between the two economies. India is a major exporter of pharmaceuticals, textiles, and machinery to Saudi Arabia, while the Kingdom supplies crude oil and petrochemicals. A coordinated cargo strategy could offer shippers more efficient logistics solutions.
The partnership also comes at a time when Indian airfares are under pressure due to capacity adjustments by major carriers. As reported, Indian airfares climb as IndiGo and Air India cut summer capacity, making new codeshare routes a potential stabilising factor for pricing and availability.
For travel agents and tour operators, the single-booking capability simplifies itinerary planning for clients travelling between India and Saudi Arabia, as well as onward connections to Europe, Africa, and Asia. The loyalty programme collaboration could also provide frequent flyers with more opportunities to earn and redeem miles across both networks.
As Riyadh Air prepares for its inaugural commercial flights, the partnership with Air India positions the Saudi carrier to quickly build a robust network in one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets. The MoU is expected to be followed by detailed commercial agreements in the coming months, with codeshare flights likely to commence before the end of 2025.
