Delta signs agreement with Riyadh Air to expand connectivity

Delta Air Lines and Riyadh Air,  Saudi Arabia’s innovative new full-service global carrier, have signed a Strategic Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding with the goal of introducing a broad range of benefits for customers traveling between North America, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and destinations beyond. 

The agreement, signed today at a ceremony at Delta’s World Headquarters in Atlanta, serves as the  foundation for a strategic partnership that will enable both airlines to strengthen connectivity, expand  their networks and drive future growth. 

“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.” 

“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,” said Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas. 

The agreement envisions a long-term relationship, subject to regulatory approvals, that includes  interline and codeshare connectivity, as well as a deeper partnership encompassing loyalty, customer  experience, digital transformation and broader aviation services such as maintenance, repair and  overhaul services, ground handling and training. In the future, the airlines intend to explore an  immunized joint venture to further expand the partnership and allow collaboration on network planning  and growth in the region. Both airlines are committed to driving the best sustainability practices  throughout their operations as they transform the future of travel. 

The partnership will open new destinations in Saudi Arabia and beyond for Delta customers, including  future nonstop service on Delta 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 while creating new opportunities for 

business travelers to Riyadh, a G20 capital city, plus destinations beyond. And it will offer Delta’s leading  North American network for Riyadh Air customers, offering convenient access to hundreds of  destinations in the U.S. and beyond with Delta’s famous reliability and elevated service. 

The new partnership comes as large-scale, ongoing investments in the Kingdom are transforming it into  a popular and attractive destination for both leisure and business travelers. Travel is central to the  nation’s long-term economic growth plan, with an $800 billion investment in the tourism sector that  includes development of luxury resorts on the Red Sea, the opening of the Diriyah and al-Ula historical  site to visitors, and the hosting of the 2030 Riyadh Expo. 

Riyadh Air, which will begin operations in 2025, is committed to building a premier carrier for customers  traveling to and from the Middle East, with its base of operations in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Delta, which will mark its 100^th anniversary next year, is the most-awarded U.S. airline with 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 said. “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.”