Riyadh Air and ANA All Nippon Airways have signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen cooperation and expand connectivity between Saudi Arabia and Japan. The agreement focuses on potential codeshare services and broader commercial ties, with both carriers aiming to improve traffic flows between their hubs and widen access to domestic and international networks across both airlines.
The partnership brings together Riyadh Air, the Saudi startup carrier, and ANA, Japan’s largest airline group, at a time when airlines are leaning on alliance-style deals to strengthen network reach without immediate aircraft or route commitments. The scope of the memorandum points to cooperation in areas such as sales, distribution and passenger connectivity, rather than a launch of new services. For Riyadh Air, the tie-up could support its efforts to build an international network from its base in Saudi Arabia. For ANA, it opens a potential channel for more traffic between Japan and the Gulf, while also linking passengers into each carrier’s wider network.