IATA AGM: Riyadh Air, Air France-KLM Group Sign MoU

DELHI — Riyadh Air (RX) and the Air France-KLM Group (AF-KL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish strategic cooperation, aiming to enhance connectivity between Riyadh, Paris, and Amsterdam.

The agreement was signed at the 2025 IATA AGM by Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, and Benjamin Smith, CEO of the Air France-KLM Group. Subject to obtaining the required regulatory approvals, this cooperation will open up new opportunities in Western Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Asia, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Air France's recent launch of a direct route between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Riyadh, complementing KLM's existing Amsterdam-Riyadh route, reflects the partners' commitment to expanding travel options to and from Saudi Arabia.

Through this agreement, the airlines will explore ways to establish mutually beneficial arrangements for operational assistance, airport lounge access, and reward programs. The cooperation also covers freight transportation, digital transformation, sustainable development, and aircraft maintenance.

Combined Network Reach

Riyadh Air Network

• Launching end of 2025
• Targeting over 100 destinations across six continents
• Fleet: 60 Airbus A321neo (narrowbody), 72 Boeing 787 (widebody) on order, with further expansion planned
• Hub: King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh

Air France-KLM Group Network

• KLM: Over 170 destinations worldwide, including 19 in North America
• Air France: Extensive European, African, Asian, and American coverage
• Hubs: Paris Charles de Gaulle (Air France), Amsterdam Schiphol (KLM)
• Member of the SkyTeam alliance

If the airlines were to combine their networks—either through codeshare, alliance partnership, or interline agreements—their joint reach would be significant:

• Global Coverage: Nearly every major region and economic center worldwide would be accessible, with strong presences in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
• Hub Connectivity: Passengers could connect seamlessly through Riyadh, Paris, and Amsterdam, facilitating one-stop travel between the Middle East and virtually any destination served by AF-KL.
• Fleet Synergy: RX’s new fleet of widebody and narrowbody aircraft would complement AF’s established long-haul and regional operations, enhancing flexibility and capacity.
• SkyTeam Alliance: KL and AF are core members of SkyTeam, and RX has signed cooperation agreements with several SkyTeam and Star Alliance members, indicating openness to alliance-based connectivity.

Comments from Airline CEOs

Tony Douglas, Chairman and CEO of Riyadh Air, said: “We are working hard to connect Riyadh to the rest of the world and our partnership with Air France-KLM, a leading global airline, will accelerate our efforts to achieve this goal. We aim to deliver exceptional experiences and deliver on our long-term ambition to redefine air travel through innovation, operational excellence and customer-centric services. This partnership will strengthen our international network, build confidence in our growth trajectory and confirm our role in supporting Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification goals under Vision 2030.”

Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM, added: “Saudi Arabia is rapidly establishing itself as a key aviation market. All three of our brands, Air France, KLM and Transavia, now serve the country, and with this new agreement with Riyadh Air, we aim to continue strengthening our presence in the region. We are pleased to combine our networks and expertise with those of Riyadh Air to offer our joint customers more choice and seamless travel. This cooperation complements the one already in place with our alliance partner SkyTeam in the region.”