DALLAS — Delta Air Lines (DL) and Riyadh Air (RX) have signed a Strategic Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at providing a wide range of benefits for travelers between North America, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and beyond.

The airlines formalized their collaboration at a ceremony held yesterday July 9 at DL's World Headquarters in Atlanta.

The agreement will introduce more competitive options for travelers, including future Delta flights between the U.S. and Riyadh. Under this partnership, DL will be RX's exclusive partner in North America, while RX will be DL's exclusive partner in Riyadh and other regions.

Strategic Cooperation Agreement

Subject to regulatory approvals, the agreement envisions a long-term partnership that will include interline and codeshare connectivity as well as a deeper partnership that will cover customer experience, loyalty, digital transformation, and broader aviation services like ground handling, maintenance, repair, and overhaul services.

As per the DL release, the airlines also want to investigate the possibility of forming an immune joint venture in the future in order to deepen their alliance and facilitate cooperation on network expansion and planning within the region.

“It’s fitting that Riyadh Air will begin its journey the same year that Delta launches our second century of flight,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian said.