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Air India and Saudia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their strategic partnership and enhance air connectivity between India and Saudi Arabia, reflecting the rising demand for business, tourism, and religious travel between the two nations.
The agreement builds on the airlines' existing codeshare partnership and creates a broader framework for collaboration across commercial and operational areas. It was signed by Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, and Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India.
As part of the partnership, both carriers will explore expanding their existing codeshare arrangement, allowing passengers to access a wider network of destinations through a single booking. The airlines also plan to improve network connectivity, assess terminal co-location opportunities at key airports, and strengthen operational and commercial cooperation to deliver a smoother travel experience.
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In addition, the two airlines will evaluate collaboration between their respective loyalty programmes, enabling members to potentially earn and redeem rewards across both networks. The partnership may also be extended to other airlines within their respective groups, including flyadeal and Air India Express, further expanding travel options for customers.
The collaboration comes as travel demand between India and Saudi Arabia continues to grow, driven by business ties, tourism, expatriate travel, and religious pilgrimages such as Hajj and Umrah. By enhancing connectivity and operational coordination, the airlines aim to provide passengers with greater flexibility, improved schedules, and seamless access to destinations across their combined networks.
Since its privatization in 2022, Air India has significantly expanded its global partnerships as part of its ongoing transformation strategy. The airline now has 25 codeshare agreements and more than 120 interline partnerships, enabling travelers to connect to over 1,000 destinations worldwide through its partner airlines. The latest agreement with Saudia further strengthens Air India's international network while reinforcing aviation ties between India and Saudi Arabia.
