Delta Air Lines has just inked a partnership with an airline which hasn’t even launched flights yet.
Delta announced a partnership with Saudi based Riyadh Air, and says it aims to launch Saudi Arabia flights in the future.
Riyadh Air plans to launch flights next summer.
The new Saudi airline is being heavily backed by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund.
As it hasn’t launched yet, the two airlines haven’t confirmed any specific details such as when the partnership will start.
Both airline CEOs did however say the partnership will include an airline codeshare agreement allowing for through ticketing between the US and the middle east.
They also said it could, over time, develop into a full joint venture agreement subject to regulatory approvals.
Delta would eventually become the first US airline to fly direct to Saudi.
The only current nonstop connection is on Saudia, which flies to New York, Washington Dulles and LAX
