Under the agreement, passengers of both airlines will be able to book connecting flights on a single ticket and check in their baggage through to their final destination, simplifying the travel process.

Air India passengers flying to Jeddah or Riyadh will gain access to onward connections on Saudia-operated flights to several Saudi cities, including Dammam, Abha, Gassim, Gizan, Madinah, and Taif.

The inclusion of codeshare services on the Jeddah–Riyadh route will also allow travellers greater flexibility, enabling arrivals in one city and departures from another. Additional connections to select international destinations are expected to be added later in the year.

Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, said: “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.”

For Saudia passengers, the agreement will provide access to a wider network within India through Air India’s hubs in Mumbai and Delhi. This includes major cities such as Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Kochi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Lucknow, and Jaipur, along with more than 15 other destinations available under interline arrangements.

H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, said: “The codeshare agreement with Air India marks a strategic step forward. Saudia’s presence in India spans over 60 years, during which we’ve proudly served a wide range of guests and helped foster stronger ties between our two nations. Saudia 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.”