Air India, Saudia Expand Partnership to Boost India–Saudi Connectivity

Air India and Saudia have expanded their commercial partnership to boost air connectivity between India and Saudi Arabia, reflecting intensifying aviation cooperation between the two carriers and rising demand for international travel links. The expanded arrangement includes new codeshare services, additional frequencies and enhanced network access for passengers travelling between the Indian subcontinent and key Saudi destinations.

Under the revised partnership, Air India will place its code on additional Saudia flights connecting Indian cities with Riyadh and Jeddah, while Saudia will reciprocate on Air India’s services to major Indian markets. The carriers have also agreed to align schedules to improve onward connections, offering greater flexibility for leisure and business travellers across both networks.

Air India’s strategic focus on strengthening Middle Eastern connectivity aligns with broader efforts to augment its global footprint following privatisation and fleet modernisation. The partnership taps into growing passenger flows between India and the Gulf region, underscored by pilgrimage travel to Saudi Arabia and expanding economic ties.

The expanded codeshare also enhances access to Saudia’s extensive network across the Middle East and Africa, feeding Air India’s traffic and improving regional connectivity. Industry analysts view such bilateral cooperation as a cost-efficient way for airlines to broaden their market reach without immediate fleet deployment, particularly on sectors with strong seasonal and year-round demand.

For Saudia, partnering more closely with Air India reinforces its strategy to deepen ties in the South Asian market. India is one of Saudia’s top international markets by passenger volume, driven by business travel, tourism and expatriate traffic. The codeshare expansion supports both carriers’ efforts to capture market share in a competitive Middle East–Asia aviation corridor.

Operationally, the partnership will require commercial coordination on pricing, inventory management and joint marketing initiatives to ensure seamless customer experience across carrier touchpoints. Both airlines will leverage frequent flyer programmes to extend reciprocal benefits to travellers, enhancing loyalty value propositions.

Enhanced India–Saudi connectivity also aligns with broader bilateral aviation agreements between the governments of India and Saudi Arabia, facilitating slot coordination, overflight clearances and regulatory alignment. Aviation regulators in both countries have expressed support for deeper airline cooperation to unlock tourism and trade potential.

The move comes amid a dynamic period for Middle Eastern aviation, where Gulf carriers are intensifying network linkages and strategic partnerships to navigate post-pandemic demand patterns and evolving travel trends. For Indian carriers, deepening ties with Gulf hubs remains critical to sustaining long-haul connectivity and competitive offerings.

By strengthening codeshare operations and scheduling synergies, Air India and Saudia aim to tap into latent demand and offer enhanced connectivity options that bridge South Asia with the Middle East and beyond.