Saudi Arabian Airlines officially joins SkyTeam alliance

Saudi Arabia’s flag carrier Saudia, previously known as Saudi Arabian Airlines, recently announced it has officially joined Delta Air Line’s SkyTeam global airline alliance.

After joining the SkyTeam at a ceremony held in Jeddah recently, Saudia has now become the first member airline from the Middle East. By joining the SkyTeam alliance, Saudia flights around the world will be operated more than before.

The airline had first expressed its desire to join the Delta Air Lines-led SkyTeam global airline alliance in early 2011.

The move of the airline to join the alliance has come after an expansion of SkyTeam’s network had generated some controversy last year.

Delta Air Lines has said that it is not planning to enter into codeshare agreement with Saudia by selling seats on each others’ flights. The airline, however, said that it will be sharing lounge benefits and allow passengers to earn Delta Air Lines frequent flier miles if they fly on Saudia.