Turkish Airlines and Riyadh Air have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to partner in both passenger and cargo services, among others.

In a statement, Turkish noted a comprehensive range of benefits expected along the value chain, including aviation-related services, cargo and digital development.

"The intention of both carriers is that benefits will be made available to guests as soon as possible after Riyadh Air launches operations in mid-2025 and is subject to regulatory approvals by relevant authorities," it said.

Turkish Airlines said, among others, the MoU also commits Riyadh Air and Turkish Airlines to work together to explore and implement broader synergies and efficiencies across the value chain, touching areas such as aviation-related services, cargo and digital development.

"We are happy to start our relationship with Riyadh Air, a promising new player in the aviation industry. This Memorandum of Understanding is more than a collaboration; it's a bridge between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, further strengthening our ties," said Levent Konukcu, chief investment & technology officer at Turkish Airlines.

"We believe this partnership will not only benefit our customers but also contribute significantly to the tourism and business sectors of both countries," he added.

Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, noted that the agreement is another "very significant step" in the evolution of Riyadh Air.

"Our close relationship will open up seamless connectivity via the global-leading hub at Istanbul Airport to some 130 destinations worldwide, especially within Türkiye, Europe and the Americas and accelerate our network footprint through the market-leading, guest-centric, digitally focused and like-minded global airline brand that is Turkish Airlines," he said.

The Riyadh Air chief added that the bilateral agreements with established network airlines are extremely important to Riyadh Air, and there are significant benefits to this partnership.

"The establishment of Riyadh Air is in line with PIF's mandate to unlock the capabilities of key sectors locally to drive the diversification of Saudi Arabia's economy."

Riyadh Air said the airline will also support the Saudi Aviation Strategy's broader vision and enable the National Tourism Strategy, unlocking Saudi Arabia's cultural and natural attractions to international tourists and creating new jobs.

Konukcu of Turkish Airlines and Douglas of Riyadh Air signed the agreement at a ceremony on the sidelines of the ICAO Air Services Negotiation Event (ICAN 2023) held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.