Riyadh Air (RX) and Saudia (SV) have activated the first phase of a strategic cooperation agreement, introducing what the carriers describe as the aviation industry's first codeshare integration between an offer-order airline platform and a traditional Passenger Service System (PSS) carrier, the companies announced Thursday.

Under the agreement, Riyadh Air will place its "RX" code on Saudia-operated flights connecting Riyadh Air's hub at King Khalid International Airport (RUH) to six domestic destinations: Abha, Al Qassim, Dammam, Jeddah, Medina, and Tabuk.

The partnership stems from a Memorandum of Understanding signed in November 2023 and follows what the companies said was three years of technical development between Riyadh Air, Saudia, and their technology partners FLYR, INK and Amadeus, aimed at linking the two airlines' distinct booking and ticketing systems.

Officials from both carriers said the arrangement would expand connectivity for travelers passing through the Kingdom. Riyadh Air said the codeshare would allow a passenger departing from Dammam, for example, to fly through Riyadh to Madrid on a single ticket, while an international traveler from Kuala Lumpur could connect through Riyadh onward to Medina.

Vincent Coste, chief commercial officer of Riyadh Air, called the technical integration "a fundamental principle" of the airline's digital-native business model and described the partnership as "a significant industry milestone."

Arved von zur Muehlen, Chief Commercial Officer of Saudia, said the codeshare reflected "strong collaboration" between the two carriers and their shared aim of supporting the growth of Saudi Arabia's aviation sector, adding that both airlines expected to expand the benefits for passengers as the partnership develops.

With both airlines operating from the same terminal complex at King Khalid International Airport, the companies said connecting passengers would be able to transit on a single ticket with baggage checked through to their final destination. Riyadh Air also said its Business Class passengers on connecting Saudia-operated flights would gain access to Saudia's airport lounges, along with fast-track security and priority boarding where available.

The two airlines said further steps in the partnership are planned in the coming months, including reciprocal frequent-flyer accrual and redemption arrangements between Riyadh Air's Sfeer and Saudia's Alfursan loyalty programs, as well as a lounge-access agreement covering both airlines' guests in Saudi Arabia and internationally. Saudia said it also intends to place its own "SV" code on Riyadh Air-operated flights to additional destinations.

Riyadh Air, a company wholly owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, said it currently has partnership memorandums of understanding in place with nearly 15 other airlines worldwide and that the newly developed integration technology is expected to support future codeshare and interline agreements with other carriers.

Source: Joint PR