23 July,2026 04:50 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group and Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India. Photo courtesy: Special arrangement
Building on their existing codeshare agreement, Air India and Saudi Arabia's national carrier Saudia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand strategic cooperation to strengthen connectivity between Saudi Arabia and India, and explore further operational and commercial opportunities.
The two airlines would also evaluate opportunities to extend the partnership in the future to other airlines within their respective groups, including flyadeal and Air India Express, the carriers said in a statement.
The MoU signed by H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, and Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India outlines a phased plan to develop the partnership to meet the increasing travel demand between the two countries.
Areas of cooperation include expanding the existing codeshare agreement, improving connectivity across both airlines' networks, exploring terminal co-location and exploring further operational and commercial opportunities, including cooperation between their loyalty programmes. The two airlines had signed a codeshare agreement early this year.
"The relationship between India and Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen across multiple dimensions, creating significant opportunities for aviation to play an even greater role in connecting people, businesses, and the economies of the two nations. As carriers serving rapidly growing markets, Air India and Saudia are well positioned to deepen this relationship through closer collaboration. Together with Saudia, we look forward to exploring a range of new opportunities that will deliver greater value to our respective customers while supporting our long-term growth objectives, together," Wilson said.
Since its privatisation in 2022, Tata-group owned Air India has expanded its global alliance network. The airline maintains 25 codeshare partnerships and more than 120 interline agreements with carriers worldwide, at present, providing seamless access to over 1,000 destinations globally.
A codeshare agreement refers to a partnership between airlines sharing the same flight. One airline operates the plane while its partner also sells tickets for the same flight under its flight number.
"India is an important market for Saudia, and Air India is a valued partner in strengthening travel links between our two countries. This partnership will offer guests greater choice, flexibility, and more seamless journeys across both networks as demand continues to grow," H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar said.
"It will also create new opportunities for operational and commercial collaboration, supporting the growth priorities of both airlines and providing scope to broaden the relationship across our respective airline groups in the future," he added.
