Riyadh Air and the Air France-KLM Group have signed a Strategic Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement, inked during the 2025 IATA Annual General Meeting, marks a major milestone in Riyadh Air’s evolution as Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier and its ambition to become a global aviation player.
The MoU was formally signed by Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, and Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM Group. The partnership is expected to unlock new opportunities across Western Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Asia, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, subject to regulatory approval.
The core objective of the partnership is to enhance global connectivity for travellers moving between Riyadh, Paris, Amsterdam, and beyond. With Riyadh Air positioning its home hub in the Saudi capital and Air France-KLM leveraging its major European bases at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol, the two airlines plan to collaborate on building strong, interconnected networks that serve mutual passengers across key global routes.
In a sign of that momentum, Air France has already launched a new Paris–Riyadh service, complementing KLM’s existing Amsterdam–Riyadh operations.
But the agreement goes beyond air routes. Riyadh Air and Air France-KLM will also work on enhancing the guest experience, focusing on reciprocal loyalty programme benefits, lounge access, and operational support. Additionally, the cooperation will extend into strategic areas such as Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO), digital transformation, sustainability initiatives, and cargo services—creating a multi-dimensional partnership designed to offer more than just connectivity.
“We are dedicated to connecting Riyadh to the world, and partnering with Air France-KLM – a leader in global aviation – will accelerate bringing to life our vision to deliver exceptional experiences and the realization of our long-term vision: to redefine air travel through innovation, operational excellence, and guest-centric services,” said — Tony Douglas, CEO, Riyadh Air. This partnership not only strengthens our international network but also reinforces confidence in our growth trajectory and our role in supporting Saudi Arabia’s broader economic diversification goals under Vision 2030.”
Air France-KLM echoed this forward-looking sentiment, emphasising the importance of Saudi Arabia in its regional strategy. Benjamin Smith, CEO, Air France-KLM said: “Saudi Arabia is rapidly emerging as a key market for aviation. With our three brands, Air France, KLM and Transavia now serving the country, and with this new agreement with Riyadh Air, we aim to continue increasing our footprint in the region. We look forward to combining our networks and expertise with Riyadh Air, and to offer our mutual customers more choice and convenience. This cooperation is complementary to our SkyTeam partner in the region.”
Latest in a series of MoUs
Over the past year, Riyadh Air has signed a series of high-profile Memorandums of Understanding with major international carriers, reinforcing its position as a future global aviation leader.
In North America, the airline has partnered with Delta Air Lines in a strategic agreement that positions each as the other’s exclusive partner in their respective home markets. This collaboration includes interline and codeshare integration, reciprocal loyalty programmes, and future joint initiatives in areas such as MRO, digital transformation, and sustainability.
Riyadh Air has also formed a strategic alignment with Singapore Airlines, laying the groundwork for mutual benefits in interline connectivity, customer experience, cargo, and loyalty programme cooperation—strengthening its presence in Southeast Asia.
Closer to home, the airline entered into a national partnership with Saudia to create unified travel options across domestic and international routes. This MoU supports coordination in network development, customer service, digital innovation, and cargo logistics.
In Europe, Riyadh Air has recently signed a major agreement with the Air France-KLM Group, building direct links between Riyadh, Paris, and Amsterdam and setting the stage for deeper operational and customer-focused cooperation. A similar understanding has been established with Virgin Atlantic to enhance connectivity between the UK and the Kingdom, particularly through London Heathrow.
Further agreements with leading airlines in China, Turkey, and Egypt signal Riyadh Air’s intent to build a globally integrated network from the outset—supported by shared technology platforms, seamless customer experiences, and multi-region codeshare opportunities.
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