Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air recently announced its expansion into the Chinese market by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Eastern Airlines. Riyadh Air announced the partnership during its participation at the recently held International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Dubai.
Driving connectivity and economic growth
Riyadh Air and China Eastern Airlines’ partnership aims to strengthen the growing economic and cultural ties between China and Saudi Arabia while unlocking new travel options for underserved markets. In a bid to enhance connectivity and collaboration in trade, tourism and culture, China Eastern Airlines recently launched direct flights from Shanghai to Riyadh.
Commenting on the announcement, Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, stated that the agreement marks a significant milestone for Riyadh Air as China is a major market which will support the Kindgom’s connectivity and economic growth. “We are particularly excited to explore synergies in digital innovation, where both airlines share a commitment to the future of travel,” Douglas added.
The partnership also extends beyond connectivity, fostering collaboration on digital transformation, a critical area for Chinese airlines. Therefore, Riyadh Air sees immense potential for knowledge sharing and technology development in collaboration with China Eastern Airlines.
Read: Saudi Arabia authorizes India’s Akasa Air to operate regular flights to Kingdom
Digital empowerment takes center stage
The agreement seeks to boost cooperation between the two airlines in areas such as business, information technology and digital operations. “China Eastern Airlines is committed to driving high-quality development through comprehensive digital empowerment, enhancing core competitiveness, and providing excellent products and experiences for our customers,” stated Wang Zhiqing, chairman of China Eastern Airlines.Â
In addition, the agreement facilitates the seamless connection between China Eastern Airlines’ Shanghai-based hub network and Riyadh Air’s future route network. This facilitates the process of passanger transfer between China and regions such as the Middle East, Europe, Africa and South America, fostering new development and growth for both parties.
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