The airlines already had a interline agreement in place and but this further relationship will enable the two carrier's to start selling codeshare itineraries on each other's flights. It gives greater connectivity between the United States and the Middle East. Delta customers will gain access to nine destinations in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East beyond Saudia’s hubs in Jeddah and Riyadh. Saudia guests will gain access to 12 destinations in the U.S. beyond Delta’s hubs at JFK and LAX airports.
Delta and Saudia guests will enjoy enhanced travel experiences between the airlines' respective destinations, serving both tourism and business sectors. Delta and Saudia are both members of the SkyTeam alliance. Frequent Flyers will continue to earn and redeem miles on both airlines, while SkyTeam Elite Plus travellers benefit from SkyPriority services.
Perry Cantarutti, Senior Vice President Alliances, said: “Saudia’s growing Jeddah hub and extensive network bring Delta customers closer to greater access to destinations across one of the world’s most important economic regions. Strengthening our partnership responds to customer demand for more travel choice between the Gulf and North America.”
Arved Von Zur Muehlen, Chief Commercial Officer at Saudia, stated: “Signing this codeshare agreement with Delta Air Lines reflects Saudia's commitment to expanding its flight network, providing seamless travel experiences and enhancing its global connectivity. This provides Saudia’s guests with more travel options, promoting the local tourism sector and allowing international visitors to discover the diversity of the Kingdom's attractions.”
He continued: “This partnership between two legacy airlines fosters greater collaboration between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States, opening up new possibilities for commercial and tourism relations. We look forward to furthering our cooperation and exploring additional opportunities with Delta.”
*Subject to U.S. DOT government approval
