The agreement brings together the two full-service carriers and is intended to strengthen travel links by making use of their respective hubs in Delhi, Mumbai and Riyadh. The airlines said the partnership is designed to support growing demand for travel between India and Saudi Arabia, as well as onward connections to other international destinations.

Subject to regulatory approvals, the two carriers plan to introduce interline and codeshare arrangements that would allow passengers to travel across both airline networks on a single booking while benefiting from more convenient connections through their hubs.

Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, said: “India and Saudi Arabia are two important growth markets in global aviation today, and the scale and momentum in both countries make this a natural partnership. We look forward to working with Riyadh Air to bring together complementary strengths of the two airlines to unlock that opportunity with a focus on offering our guests more choice across our combined networks and elevating their travel experiences.”

Air India and Riyadh Air will also examine opportunities to work together in other areas, including frequent-flyer programme benefits, cargo operations, operational support, and digital and technology initiatives aimed at improving the overall travel experience.

The planned partnership comes amid increasing demand for travel driven by business, tourism and family visits, reflecting the strong economic, cultural and people-to-people links between India and Saudi Arabia.

Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, stated, “India is one of the most important and dynamic aviation markets in the world, and this partnership with Air India marks a defining step in Riyadh Air's mission to connect Saudi Arabia with key global destinations. Together, we will offer guests a seamless, world-class experience that reflects the deep cultural and economic bonds shared between our two nations.”

Riyadh Air recently opened bookings through its website and mobile app for flights to London Heathrow. The airline's inaugural service on the route is scheduled to begin on 1 July. Through connections via Riyadh, the new service is expected to provide travellers from India with additional access to the United Kingdom and other destinations in Europe for business, leisure, and family travel.