Air India and Saudia Sign Codeshare to Expand Flights and Simplify Connections

Exciting news for international travellers, air travel between India and Saudi Arabia is about to get simpler.

Starting from February 2026, Air India and Saudia will roll out a new codeshare agreement. The idea is straightforward: more routes, smoother connections, and fewer hassles for travellers moving between the two countries.

Here’s what this really means if you’re planning a trip.

One Booking, Fewer Headaches

Under the new codeshare agreement, passengers can book their entire journey on a single ticket, even if parts of the trip are operated by the partner airline.

Baggage will be checked through to the final destination. Connections will be smoother. No need to juggle multiple bookings or recheck bags mid-journey.

For frequent travellers, that alone is a big win.

More Cities Inside Saudi Arabia for Air India Flyers

If you fly Air India to Jeddah or Riyadh, you can now connect easily onward on Saudia flights to several Saudi cities. These include:

• Dammam
• Abha
• Gassim
• Gizan
• Madinah
• Taif

There’s also added flexibility on the busy Jeddah–Riyadh route. You can arrive in one city and fly out from the other without extra planning. More international connections are expected to be added later this year.

Better Access to India for Saudia Passengers

The deal works both ways. Saudia passengers will gain easier access to major Indian cities via Mumbai and Delhi. That includes:

• Ahmedabad
• Bengaluru
• Kolkata
• Kochi
• Hyderabad
• Chennai
• Lucknow
• Jaipur
• And more…

For business travellers and families visiting relatives, this opens up far more options across India without complicated transfers.

Why This Partnership Matters

Saudi Arabia is a key market for Air India, especially with a large Indian community living and working there. At the same time, Saudi Arabia is pushing hard to grow tourism, business travel, and international connections.

For Indian travellers, visiting the Kingdom has also become easier. Saudi Arabia now offers e-visas, stopover visas, and visa-on-arrival for eligible Indian passport holders.

What this partnership does is remove friction. It turns two separate airline networks into one easier-to-use system.

Air India’s Growing Global Network

Since its privatisation in 2022, Air India has been steadily expanding its international partnerships.

With this new deal, Air India now has 24 codeshare agreements and nearly 100 interline partnerships worldwide. That gives its passengers access to more than 800 destinations globally.

The tie-up with Saudia fits neatly into that bigger picture.

Expanding Global Partnerships

In 2025, Air India strengthened its international presence by expanding codeshare partnerships with several global carriers, including ANA, Air Astana, Air New Zealand, Air Mauritius, and Icelandair, among others.

What Travellers Should Take Away

If you travel often between India and Saudi Arabia, or plan to soon, this codeshare makes life easier. Fewer connections to worry about. More city choices. One ticket instead of several.

It’s not flashy. It’s practical. And for most travellers, that’s exactly what matters.