Delta Partners With Riyadh Air

Delta has announced it’ll partner with the upcoming Riyadh Air of Saudi Arabia to increase connectivity between the Kingdom and North America.

The partnership falls under strategic cooperation, and its signing is initially a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Once launched, the hope is that customers’ benefits will be felt broadly.

Expanding networks alongside the ability to develop the partnership further with the implementation of varying degrees of initiatives is a crucial building block for the deal. Furthermore, the pair highlights the belief that coming together is the best decision to drive future growth, as their networks will only continue to grow.

Delta wants to connect the world and give its customers as many choices as possible. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia remains a focus, and the best way to access it is by developing a partnership with Riyadh Air.

The partnership is intended to be long-term and is still subject to regulatory approval. In the future, this could entail codeshare benefits, interline agreements, enhanced loyalty, customer experience and digital factors that would be improved.

Delta further adds that the partnership will open nonstop service between the United States and Riyadh on a Delta-operated aircraft.

Introducing Riyadh Air

Riyadh Air has announced several partnerships with airlines, Delta being the latest, as it gears up for a 2025 launch of scheduled passenger flights. These partnerships stretch from Turkish Airlines to Singapore Airlines and even Air China, with its connectivity set to be optimised from the moment it launches.

Once the company launches, it hopes to operate exclusively with Boeing planes led by a commitment to the 787 Dreamliner as its sole widebody aircraft. Specific firm routes are yet to be identified, but the ambition is clear: to be a global airline.

In the meantime, as the company awaits aircraft delivery and its launch, the strategic signing of partnerships with airlines will give it the best possible start to ensure long-term success.

The company’s launch aligns with the Kingdom’s view of increasing tourism by the 2030s and isn’t intended to compete with the existing SAUDIA or be a replacement. Instead, the Kingdom and the upcoming airline executives state it’ll complement the carrier and look to grow together.

Riyadh Air is backed by Tony Douglas, who previously worked at Etihad Airways, and several other leading individuals looking to make the new airline a powerhouse.