Delta Air Lines and Saudia, two large members of the SkyTeam alliance, have announced an expanded codeshare agreement set to expand connection possibilities.

A New Market

Delta has never flown to Saudi Arabia in the past. While the carrier still has not confirmed plans to launch flights there, this new agreement will make traveling to and beyond the Kingdom much easier for Delta customers.

It should be noted that this codeshare agreement is pending approval from the United States Department of Transportation.

Through the new codeshare, Delta passengers can book flights to around nine new destinations in the Gulf region. While not specified, these destinations will be accessible through Saudia's hubs in Jeddah (JED) and Riyadh (RUH). Flights to such places can be booked through the Delta website.

This also means that Delta passengers who find themselves on Saudia flights can earn Delta SkyMiles, and the same is true for Saudia passengers taking Delta flights.

Compared to the nine Saudi destinations opening for Delta passengers, 12 Delta destinations will be open for Saudi passengers to book flights directly via Saudia.

Again, these destinations have yet to be specified. However, they will be accessible through Delta's hubs in New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX). These are the only two U.S. destinations that Saudia serves that are also Delta hubs.

Growing Interest

The Middle East region is one of the most important economic areas in the world. Saudi Arabia is a key contributor to the region's economic growth, and the Kingdom has seen immense growth recently.

As far as Saudia goes, the carrier has improved drastically. It recently unveiled a new brand identity and has focused heavily on improving its passenger experience. Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport recently opened a brand-new passenger terminal miles ahead of the previous one.

Perry Cantarutti, Delta's Senior Vice President of Alliances, commented that:
"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."

Similarly, Saudia's Chief Commercial Officer Arved Von Zur Muehlen, commented:

"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."

Von Zur Muehlen 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."

Delta has expressed growing interest in the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia. Earlier this year, the airline signed a Strategic Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding with up-and-coming Riyadh Air.
 
This will allow Delta to have significant ties to Saudi Arabia. While Saudia's main operation is based in Jeddah, with a significant number of flights from Riyadh, Riyadh Air will be instrumental in promoting air traffic growth to the Saudi capital.