Delta Air Lines and Riyadh Air have signed a Strategic Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding. This partnership aims to introduce a wide range of benefits for customers traveling between North America, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and beyond.
The agreement, signed at Delta’s World Headquarters in Atlanta, marks the beginning of a strategic alliance that will enable both airlines to expand their networks, enhance connectivity, and drive future growth. This collaboration is expected to significantly boost competition by offering new travel choices, including future Delta service between the US and Riyadh.
“This partnership with Riyadh Air will further Delta’s mission of connecting the world and open an array of new choices, benefits, and destinations for our customers traveling to and from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” said Delta CEO Ed Bastian. “Most importantly, Riyadh Air shares Delta’s commitment to providing an elevated customer experience, which is why we’re looking forward to building and expanding this partnership in the months and years ahead. We appreciate the opportunity to work with the Riyadh Air team and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia as they transform the transportation economy in the Kingdom.”
Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas expressed similar enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We look forward to enjoying a very warm and productive relationship with Delta Air Lines, one of the largest and most successful airlines in the world. Riyadh Air and Delta Air Lines share common goals and pursue the highest standards in many areas including guest experience, loyalty, and sustainability, built upon great networks and strong connectivity.”
The agreement outlines a long-term relationship, subject to regulatory approvals, that includes interline and codeshare connectivity, as well as a deeper partnership encompassing loyalty programs, customer experience, digital transformation, and broader aviation services such as maintenance, repair and overhaul services, ground handling, and training. The airlines plan to explore an immunized joint venture to further expand the partnership and collaborate on network planning and regional growth. Both airlines are committed to implementing best sustainability practices throughout their operations, aiming to transform the future of travel.
This partnership will open new destinations in Saudi Arabia and beyond for Delta customers, including future nonstop service between the U.S. and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. It will provide leisure travelers with a new region of the world to explore and create new opportunities for business travelers to Riyadh, a G20 capital city, and other destinations. Riyadh Air customers will benefit from Delta’s extensive North American network, offering convenient access to hundreds of destinations in the US and beyond, with Delta’s renowned reliability and elevated service.
The new partnership comes amidst significant investments in Saudi Arabia, transforming it into an attractive destination for both leisure and business travelers. Central to the nation’s long-term economic growth plan is an US$800 billion investment in the tourism sector, which includes the development of luxury resorts on the Red Sea, the opening of the Diriyah and Al-Ula historical sites to visitors, and the hosting of the 2030 Riyadh Expo.
Riyadh Air, set to begin operations in 2025, is committed to building a premier carrier for customers traveling to and from the Middle East, with its base in Riyadh. Delta, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year, is the most-awarded U.S. airline, boasting an industry-leading global network and an unrivaled reputation for outstanding customer service and operational excellence.
“It’s fitting that Riyadh Air will begin its journey the same year that Delta launches our second century of flight,” Bastian added. “We’ll have many opportunities to learn from each other and become better airlines for our mutual customers, our employees, our investors, and our communities as we fly forward together.”
This strategic partnership between Delta and Riyadh Air promises to reshape the travel landscape, offering enhanced connectivity and premium travel options across North America, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and beyond.
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