Air India, Saudia Codeshare Boosts India-Saudi Tourism & Business Travel
Overview
Air India and Saudia have signed a strategic codeshare agreement set to enhance air connectivity between India and Saudi Arabia starting February. This partnership expands flight options, improves connections, and simplifies travel for growing tourism and business demand. Passengers gain access to a wider network of destinations across both countries, facilitating smoother journeys.
Air India and Saudia Forge Strategic Alliance
Air India and Saudi Arabia's national carrier, Saudia, have signed a codeshare agreement poised to significantly enhance air connectivity between the two nations. The partnership, effective from February, aims to cater to rising demand for tourism and business travel by offering improved network access, smoother connections, and a broader selection of flight choices.
Expanded Network Access
Passengers of both airlines will benefit from a streamlined travel experience. This includes single-ticket bookings, coordinated flight schedules, and baggage checked through to their final destinations. Saudia passengers will gain access to numerous major Indian cities via Mumbai and Delhi, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, and Kolkata, alongside over 15 additional destinations via interline connections.
Conversely, Air India passengers traveling to Jeddah or Riyadh will be able to connect to onward Saudia flights to cities like Dammam, Abha, and Madinah. The codeshare will also cover the Jeddah-Riyadh route, allowing travelers to depart from a different city than their arrival. Further international destinations are slated for expansion later this year.
Strategic Importance
H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, highlighted the strategic nature of the agreement, noting both airlines' long histories and commitment to increasing connectivity. "Saudi Arabia is a great place to visit, and with seamless e-visas, stopover visas, and also visa-on-arrival for eligible Indian passport holders, it has never been easier to visit the Kingdom," he stated, referencing the over 60 years of Saudia's presence in India.
Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India, emphasized Saudi Arabia's importance as a Middle Eastern gateway. "We are happy to be partnering with Saudia to provide greater access to the large Indian diaspora spread across Saudi Arabia as well as to open up the Kingdom’s rapidly evolving and diverse tourism offerings and remarkable destinations to holidaymakers from India," Wilson said. Since its privatization in 2022, Air India has expanded its global footprint, now holding 24 codeshare agreements and nearly 100 interline partnerships, connecting customers to over 800 destinations worldwide.
