Turkish Airlines, Riyadh Air sign MoU

Turkish Airlines and Riyadh Air have agreed a strategic cooperation memorandum of understanding (Mou) to offer a comprehensive range of benefits for guests travelling between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and points beyond their Riyadh and Istanbul hubs.

"Guests of both airlines will be able to take full advantage of each carrier’s worldwide network through a comprehensive interline and codeshare agreement that will allow customers to seamlessly connect between and combine sectors operated by either Riyadh Air or Turkish Airlines," says a release from Riyadh Air.

Tony Douglas, CEO, Riyadh Air and Levent Konukcu, Chief Investment and Technology Officer, Turkish Airlines signed the agreement at a ceremony on the sidelines of the ICAO Air Services Negotiation Event (ICAN 2023) held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the release added. "The intention of both carriers is that benefits will be made available to guests as soon as possible after Riyadh Air launches operations in mid-2025 and is subject to regulatory approvals by relevant authorities."

“This agreement is another very significant step in the evolution of Riyadh Air as we partner with the world’s largest global airline by destinations served," says Douglas. "Our close relationship will open up seamless connectivity via the global-leading hub at Istanbul Airport to some 130 destinations worldwide, especially within Türkiye, Europe and the Americas, and accelerate our network footprint through the market-leading, guest-centric, digitally focused and like-minded global airline brand that is Turkish Airlines.

"Bilateral agreements with established network airlines are extremely important to Riyadh Air, and there are significant benefits to this partnership, our passengers can enjoy greater connectivity to the world and deeper access to Türkiye while an increased flow in volumes of tourism, religious and business travel into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is anticipated. Turkish Airlines is a world-class aviation brand, and we are proud that they wish to play a part in the Riyadh Air story.”

Konukcu adds: “We are happy to start our relationship with Riyadh Air, a promising new player in the aviation industry. This memorandum of understanding is more than a collaboration; it’s a bridge between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, further strengthening our ties. It's also an opportunity to expand our reach and offer our guests more choices and convenience. We believe this partnership will not only benefit our customers but also contribute significantly to the tourism and business sectors of both countries.”