Air India and Riyadh Air have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the framework for a future partnership that aims to provide travellers with greater connectivity between India, Saudi Arabia, and destinations across the globe.

The agreement reflects the shared vision of both full-service carriers to strengthen international travel links by leveraging their strategic hubs in Delhi, Mumbai, and Riyadh. The proposed collaboration is expected to offer passengers more travel options and seamless connections across both airline networks.

Subject to regulatory approvals, the two airlines plan to introduce interline and codeshare arrangements that will allow guests to book journeys across both networks through a single reservation while benefiting from smoother transit experiences through their respective hubs.

Beyond network connectivity, Air India and Riyadh Air will also explore opportunities to collaborate in areas such as loyalty programme benefits, cargo operations, operational support, and digital and technology initiatives aimed at enhancing the overall guest experience.

The partnership comes at a time when travel demand between India and Saudi Arabia continues to grow, driven by business travel, tourism, and strong people-to-people connections between the two countries.

Commenting on the development, 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, added, “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 international alliance network. The airline currently maintains 25 codeshare partnerships and more than 120 interline agreements with global carriers, providing access to over 1,000 destinations worldwide.

Riyadh Air has also recently opened public sales for its flights to London Heathrow through its website and mobile application. The inaugural service is scheduled to commence on July 1, offering Indian travellers seamless connectivity through Riyadh to the United Kingdom and Europe for business, leisure, and family travel.

The proposed partnership marks another important step in strengthening aviation ties between India and Saudi Arabia while expanding premium travel choices for passengers across both markets.