Riyadh Air and All Nippon Airways have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at expanding connectivity between Saudi Arabia, Japan and destinations beyond, in a move that brings together the Gulf's newest full-service carrier and Japan's largest airline group.
The agreement was announced on 18 August 2026 and remains subject to regulatory approval. It lays the groundwork for the two carriers to gradually roll out new travel benefits, giving passengers more route options and a broader range of travel experiences across both airlines' networks.
Riyadh and Tokyo at the centre of the plan
The partnership is designed to make use of Riyadh Air's hub in Riyadh alongside ANA's dual hub in Tokyo. The stated goal is smoother travel between the two cities and improved access to both domestic and international markets on either side.
Under the MoU, the airlines plan to build convenient connectivity between Riyadh and Tokyo through key connecting points, while setting up a foundation for further expansion as both networks continue to grow. For ANA, the arrangement is seen as a way to capture demand not just to Riyadh itself, but into broader international markets accessible through the Saudi hub.
Beyond route connectivity, the agreement also opens the door to cooperation in other areas, including interline connectivity, codeshare arrangements and reciprocal loyalty programme benefits. Those are the building blocks that normally precede a deeper commercial tie-up, and they are the elements that passengers feel first: a single booking across two networks, through-checked baggage, and the ability to earn and burn miles on either carrier.
What the two chief executives said
Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, said the agreement reflects the airline's ambition to build meaningful global partnerships that expand choice and deliver long-term value for passengers.
"The MoU with ANA will provide a seamless premium experience for our passengers while laying the groundwork for stronger connectivity between Riyadh and Tokyo, and supporting broader commercial, operational, and guest experience opportunities as we continue to grow our network," he said.
Juichi Hirasawa, CEO of ANA, said the partnership reflects ANA's ambition to connect Japan with Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East, a region he described as experiencing remarkable economic growth.
"We are thrilled to partner with a young, dynamic, and innovative carrier whose relentless pursuit of high-quality service perfectly mirrors our own values," Hirasawa said, adding: "We aim to serve as a bridge between our markets and drive new business and tourism exchanges between our countries and beyond."
Why this matters
Riyadh Air has spent its first year of operations building out a long-haul network from the Saudi capital, and partnerships are the fastest way for a young carrier to sell beyond the cities it actually serves. Rather than launching a thin, capital-intensive route of its own into a distant market, an airline can plug into an established hub operator and offer dozens of destinations from day one.
For ANA, the appeal runs the other way. Tokyo's Haneda and Narita airports feed a dense domestic network, and a Gulf partner extends the reach of that feed westward. It is worth noting that the MoU is a statement of intent rather than a finalised commercial agreement, and the airlines have said the benefits will be introduced gradually. Regulatory approval will determine how far and how quickly the cooperation goes.
Sources: AeroTime. Featured image: AI-generated by AviationShop. By Elena Vargas.
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