In order to offer a wide range of advantages to passengers flying between North America, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and other destinations, Delta Air Lines and Riyadh Air, a brand new full-service global carrier from Saudi Arabia, have signed a Strategic Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The agreement, signed at a ceremony at Delta’s World Headquarters in Atlanta, lays the groundwork for a strategic alliance that will allow both airlines to improve connectivity, build their networks, and encourage additional growth.
“This partnership with Riyadh Air will further Delta’s mission of connecting the world and open an array of new choices, benefits and destinations for our customers traveling to and from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta.
“Most importantly, Riyadh Air shares Delta’s commitment to providing an elevated customer experience, which is why we’re looking forward to building and expanding this partnership in the months and years ahead. We appreciate the opportunity to work with the Riyadh Air team and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia as they transform the transportation economy in the Kingdom.
“We look forward to enjoying a very warm and productive relationship with Delta Air Lines, one of the largest and most successful airlines in the world. Riyadh Air and Delta Air Lines share common goals and pursue the highest standards in many areas including guest experience, loyalty, and sustainability, built upon great networks and strong connectivity.”
Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air.
Subject to regulatory approvals, the agreement envisions a long-term partnership that will include interline and codeshare connectivity as well as a deeper partnership that will cover customer experience, loyalty, digital transformation, and broader aviation services like ground handling, maintenance, repair, and overhaul services. The airlines want to investigate the possibility of forming an immune joint venture in the future in order to deepen their alliance and facilitate cooperation on network expansion and planning within the region. As they hope to redefine travel, both airlines are dedicated to implementing the best sustainability standards across their whole business.
Customers of Delta will now have access to new destinations in Saudi Arabia and abroad thanks to the collaboration, including nonstop flights from the United States to King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh in the future. It will provide tourists a new area of the world to discover and open up new travel options for business travellers to Riyadh, the capital of the G20, and other locations. Additionally, it will provide Riyadh Air customers with easy access to hundreds of U.S. and international destinations together with Delta’s renowned dependability and superior service. Delta is the industry leader in the North American network.
The announcement of this new alliance coincides with Saudi Arabia’s continuous, large-scale investments that are making it a sought-after vacation and business destination. With a $800 billion investment in the tourism sector, which includes the construction of luxury resorts on the Red Sea, the opening of the historical sites of Diriyah and al-Ula to the public, and the hosting of the 2030 Riyadh Expo, travel plays a key role in the country’s long-term economic growth plan.
The goal of Riyadh Air, which is based in the capital of Saudi Arabia, is to establish itself as a top airline serving passengers going to and from the Middle East by the year 2025. Next year, Delta will celebrate its 100th anniversary. With an unmatched reputation for exceptional customer service and operational efficiency, Delta is the most honoured U.S. airline. Its global network leads the industry.
“It’s fitting that Riyadh Air will begin its journey the same year that Delta launches our second century of flight. We’ll have many opportunities to learn from each other and become better airlines for our mutual customers, our employees, our investors and our communities as we fly forward together.”
Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta.
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