ANA and Riyadh Air Sign Strategic Partnership for Network Growth
All Nippon Airways and Riyadh Air have entered a cooperation agreement to expand connectivity between Japan and Saudi Arabia.
Traveller Impact
Travellers can expect improved flight connectivity and potential codeshare options between Japan and Saudi Arabia in the near future.
Why This Matters
All Nippon Airways (ANA) and the newly established Riyadh Air have officially entered into a strategic cooperation agreement aimed at enhancing network development. This partnership, announced in mid-September 2026, marks a significant step in strengthening aviation ties between Japan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. By aligning their networks, the two carriers intend to leverage their respective hubs in Tokyo and Riyadh to facilitate smoother travel flows for both business and leisure passengers.
The collaboration comes as Saudi Arabia continues its aggressive push to become a global aviation hub under its Vision 2030 initiative. For ANA, the partnership provides a strategic foothold in the Middle East, allowing the airline to tap into the growing demand for travel to the region. The agreement is expected to evolve into deeper commercial ties, including potential codeshare arrangements that would allow passengers to book seamless itineraries across both airlines' networks.
Who Is Affected
Business travellers frequently commuting between Tokyo and Riyadh will benefit from the enhanced network coordination. Additionally, tourists planning multi-stop itineraries between Japan and the Middle East will likely see more efficient routing options as the partnership matures.
What Travellers Should Do
Monitor the official websites of ANA and Riyadh Air for announcements regarding new codeshare flight numbers.
Check if your existing loyalty program status with ANA offers any reciprocal benefits as the partnership develops.
Use airline-specific booking tools to look for combined itineraries that may become available under the new cooperation framework.
Sign up for airline newsletters to receive direct updates on new route launches or service enhancements resulting from this deal.
Makutet Insight
Makutet expects this partnership to serve as a blueprint for Riyadh Air’s broader strategy of forming alliances with established legacy carriers to bypass the challenges of building a global network from scratch. We anticipate that this cooperation will eventually lead to a full-scale joint venture, significantly increasing competitive pressure on other Middle Eastern carriers currently dominating the Japan-Middle East corridor.
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