Delta Air Lines signed a strategic partnership deal with the Saudi startup Riyadh Air on July 9 and plans to operate nonstop flights between the United States and Saudi Arabia in the future, the companies announced in a joint statement.
Under the deal, Delta will serve as Riyadh Air’s exclusive partner in North America, providing its customers access to hundreds of U.S. destinations, according to the two airlines.
Delta’s customers are also set to benefit from the partnership, which will open up new destinations in Saudi Arabia and beyond, the airlines said.
Delta plans to launch a nonstop service from the United States to King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the carrier noted.
Neither airline stated when those flights would begin and no financial details regarding the new partnership were provided.
However, they noted that the deal will allow for “codeshare connectivity”—in which Delta Airlines and Riyadh Air can sell tickets for each other’s flights—in the future, although that will require approval from the U.S. Transportation Department.
The airlines said that the agreement between the two carriers “envisions a long-term relationship” that could allow for collaboration on network planning and growth in the region.
That collaboration will also need the green light from antitrust agencies in the United States.
Riyadh Air was founded in 2023 and is backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund.
It will serve as a second national airline alongside existing flag carrier Saudia—formerly known as Saudi Arabian Airlines—which is based in Jeddah.
While no U.S. airline currently flies to Saudi Arabia, Saudia operates nonstop flights between Saudi Arabia and New York, Dulles International Airport outside Washington, and Los Angeles.
The latest deal was made as Saudi Arabia seeks to promote itself as an attractive destination for both leisure and business travelers, with the country pouring $800 billion into the tourism sector across luxury resorts and tourist attractions.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in a statement that the partnership with Riyadh Air will further the Atlanta-based airline’s “mission of connecting the world” and offer new choices, benefits, and destinations for its customers traveling to and from Saudi Arabia.
Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas also welcomed the agreement, noting that the two airlines “share common goals and pursue the highest standards” when it comes to customer experience, loyalty, and sustainability.
