Saudi Arabia and Air India discuss codeshare agreement to boost India–Saudi connectivity.
In order to improve connectivity and increase travel alternatives between India, Saudi Arabia, and other countries, Saudia, the country’s flag carrier, and Air India, India’s top international airline, have struck a codeshare agreement that will take effect in February. Both airlines’ customers will benefit from a pleasant travel experience thanks to the agreement, which will include single itinerary booking, synchronised timetables, easy connections, and baggage check-through to final destinations.
The agreement is intended to meet the increasing demand in the business travel, tourism, and visiting friends and relatives (VFR) sectors. As per the agreement, visitors from Saudi Arabia will have interline connectivity to more than 15 other Indian cities, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Kochi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Lucknow, and Jaipur, through Mumbai and Delhi. Onwards connections on Saudi-operated aircraft to Dammam, Abha, Gassim, Gizan, Madinah, and Taif are available to Air India passengers heading to Jeddah or Riyadh. Codeshare services on the Jeddah Riyadh route also give travellers more freedom in terms of when they can arrive in one destination and leave from another.
Later this year, connections are anticipated to be added to a few overseas locations. “The codeshare agreement with Air India marks a strategic step forward, given both airlines’ long histories and their shared commitment to increasing connectivity within their home markets and between their countries, while offering guests broader access to more destinations through simplified travel procedures that elevate the overall travel experience,” said Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, in reference to the partnership. “Saudia has been in India for more than 60 years, and throughout that time, we have proudly served a diverse range of guests and contributed to the development of closer ties between our two countries,” he continued. Saudi Arabia is a fantastic destination, and visiting the Kingdom has never been simpler thanks to easy e-visas, stopover visas, and visa on arrival for qualified Indian passport holders. “Saudi Arabia is one of our most significant markets in the Middle East, and the country is rapidly evolving into a significant international gateway to the region,” stated Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India. We are pleased to be working with Saudi Arabia to give Indian vacationers more access to the Kingdom’s amazing attractions and continually changing and diverse tourism offers, as well as to the sizable Indian diaspora dispersed throughout Saudi Arabia.
Air India’s network of international alliances has grown dramatically since it was privatised in 2022. Customers of Air India can now easily visit more than 800 destinations worldwide because to the airline’s 24 codeshare arrangements and nearly 100 interline agreements with top carriers worldwide.
