Delta Air Lines unexpectedly announced a strategic partnership with Saudi startup Riyadh Air and also plans service to Riyadh, the capital of Saudia Arabia, from the United States.
Delta Air Lines Partners With Riyadh Air
Delta Air Lines already partners with Saudia, formerly known as Saudi Arabian Airlines. Saudia is the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia and a fellow SkyTeam alliance member. But today, Delta announced it would form a strategic partnership with Riyadh Air, a new carrier that is set to begin commercial operations in 2025.
Why Riyadh Air? Per Delta CEO Ed Bastian:
“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. 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’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.”
Saudi Arabia is in a transformative period. As the nation seeks to liberalize (in some ways) and diversify its economy beyond oil, plans are in effect to create Dubai-like oases in the Arabian desert and part of the plan is to funnel more traffic to Saudi Arabia via Riyadh Air.
Riyadh Air has ordered 78 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft and plans worldwide operations from King Khalid International Airport (RUH). It plans additional orders, including Boeing 737 MAX jets.
The partnership, subject to regulatory approval, will include collaboration on:
- interline + codeshare connectivity
- loyalty
- customer experience
- “digital transformation”
- maintenance, repair, and overhaul services (MRO)
- ground handling
- training
Delta did not address its existing relationships between Middle East Airlines, based in Beuit, or Saudia. Delta also partners with EL AL Israel Airlines.
Delta Plans Sevice To Saudi Arabia
In addition to the new partnership, Delta plans service form the USA to Saudi Arabia at a future point.
The partnership will open new destinations in Saudi Arabia and beyond for Delta customers, including future nonstop service on Delta between the U.S. and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
Delta has, to this point, lacked a strategic partner in the Middle East that woudl give it access to more markets in the region and Indian Subcontinent. While many thought Etihad would be Delta’s choice (as United Airlines partners with Emirates and American Airlines partners with Qatar Airways), this move gives Delta the ability so shape a carrier in its infancy and create a durable partnership with less entrenched interests than exist at Etihad.
CONCLUSION
In a surprise move, Delta announced it would partner with Riyadh Air. Though details are light at this point, the two plan an extensive collaboration and Delta even plans to serve Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at a future point.
What do you make of this new partnership?
image: Delta
Second to only United’s “order” of BOOM! supersonic jets in the realm of things that’ll never actually happen
Well, perhaps that’s being unfair to Global Airlines’ “launch” and AA’s Seattle to Bangalore flight announcement in February 2020…
I’ve been to Riyadh. I’ve been to Atlanta. They have a lot in common:
People drive everywhere. There are more fast food restaurants than you could imagine. People aren’t known for being skinny. People are also very forward about their religion.
Sounds like a natural partnership for two premium carriers based in markets people want to go to.
LOL. So true.
Can’t wait to see Delta’s adapting Burqas for crew uniforms, halal menus, mocktails and broadcasting the Dua for Safar on departure.
Pueple burqas!
Saudi Arabia is working towards becoming the new UAE. Country has changed a lot, they are welcoming lots of foreign investments, their soccer league is paying a fortune to top players to make the country strong to bid to host a future y Cup. I think this is a smart move from Delta as that market opens up.
Wow I know Tim Dunn is shooketh. Delta actually not being boring and vanilla for once
This is huge and not entirely unexpected. Delta was in a position to pick off any of the free agents in the Middle East and Riyadh will be a great partner. Delta will have the ability to shape that partnership far more than American can with Qatar or united can with Emirates.
To your point on Saudia, Delta‘s complaint did not involve Saudia. But this partnership will provide incredible leverage to Delta to grow with a premium carrier and offer far more than American or United from their Middle East partnerships.
Tim “I don’t use this blog” Dunn
I wonder what all the woke flight attendants with gay pride pins will do? Or the small number of trans flight attendants? Or a Jewish passenger? It isn’t even legal to have a Bible in your checked luggage or to wear a crucifix. I suspect this is more a case of this airline basically buying Delta’s expertise so they can launch a competent airline. Unless and until we see the KSA ease restrictions, I don’t believe this will ever happen.
This isn’t huge this is marketing BS. Why on earth would anyone take Delta to the ME when you could choose between Emirates, Qatar or Etihad? Tim is full of his usual BS and it’s clear he has never traveled outside the Southeast.
Jeezuz what an *sshole.
And unless and until MBS allows the consumption of alcohol by non-Muslims and implements other social tolerance reforms in the KSA, who is going between KSA and Detroit (the most likely base for a flight to Riyadh) without alcohol? Right now, you would get denied entry to KSA if you wore a crucifix. Having a Bible — Christian, but especially Jewish — could result in you getting arrested. If you thought the firestorm over Americans being arrested and jailed in the Turks and Caicos for some random ammunition in their bags was bad, wait until a Christian is locked up in Riyadh and sentenced to death for proselytizing.
This ain’t it, I was wanting more like Etihad as a partner, since Flying Blue already has something in place. AUH is still more Islamic conservative compared to DXB l, but Saudi’s flat out ain’t it, man