Saudi Arabia’s two national carriers are taking their first major step towards closer operational cooperation.
Riyadh Air, the Kingdom’s new national airline and a Public Investment Fund (PIF) company, and Saudia have announced the implementation of the first phase of their strategic cooperation agreement, introducing a codeshare between the two airlines.
Announced on August 27, the partnership follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two airlines in November 2023. The first phase focuses on connecting Riyadh Air’s tech with Saudia’s Passenger Service System, enabling the carriers to implement a codeshare across their respective systems and give passengers greater connectivity within Saudi Arabia and through Riyadh.
Under the first phase, Riyadh Air will place its “RX” designator code on selected Saudia-operated flights from King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh to six domestic destinations: Abha, Al Qassim, Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah and Tabuk.
The arrangement will complement Riyadh Air’s network by allowing passengers to connect between Riyadh Air services and Saudia-operated domestic flights under the codeshare. The airlines say the selected flights are scheduled to align with Riyadh Air’s arrivals and departures at King Khalid International Airport, giving passengers more convenient connecting options through the Saudi capital.
For eligible connecting journeys, the codeshare agreement means passengers can book the relevant sectors under a single ticket, rather than having to arrange separate bookings with each airline. Regardless of the airline, passengers on the codeshare flights will see their baggage checked through to their final destination, simplifying the transfer process at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport.
The two airlines operate within the Terminal 1–4 complex at King Khalid International Airport, which the carriers say supports the transfer process for connecting passengers. The coordinated schedules are intended to make it easier for travellers arriving on Riyadh Air flights to continue their journeys to the six codesharing domestic destinations, while passengers travelling from those cities can connect onwards to destinations on Riyadh Air’s network with additional ease.
In practical terms, the agreement gives Riyadh Air passengers access to domestic destinations that are served by Saudia under the RX code, while also creating additional options for travellers beginning their journeys in those Saudi cities and connecting through Riyadh.
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Saudi's continued growth in aviation
The partnership arrives at a significant moment for Saudi's aviation sector.
Earlier in August, Saudia announced increased flights on its popular long-haul international routes to New York, Beijing and Guangzhou to meet growing demand. Whilst earlier in the summer, the national carrier confirmed it would service a direct route between Riyadh and Tokyo, three times per week, beginning in November. Meanwhile, Riyadh Air is rapidly rolling out domestic, regional and international flight routes. As the Kingdom's newest airline, Riyadh Air currently lists a number of direct routes across Europe, Asia and the Middle East; including London, Manchester, Madrid, Málaga, Cairo, Dubai, Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur, Dhaka, Islamabad, Lahore, Manila and Bangkok.
Riyadh Air is rapidly expanding its international footprint, while Saudia continues to operate an established domestic and international network. By connecting the two national airlines through a codeshare, the airlines are beginning to create a more integrated network centred on Riyadh, giving passengers more ways to combine domestic and international journeys within Saudi Arabia under a single booking.
