Gulf Air And Saudia Sign Codeshare Agreement

Gulf Air and Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) have announced the signing of a codeshare, strengthening their commercial relationship. This will see each airline placing their codes (GF and SV) on each other’s flights, allowing for better connectivity and more opportunities to earn and spend frequent flyer mileage. Let’s take a look at this new Middle Eastern partnership and how it benefits travelers.

The two airlines are flag carriers of their respective countries, which have close ties to each other. Bahrain shares a land border with the much larger nation of Saudi Arabia. Photo: Gulf Air

“Being the first two airlines that started operations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, Gulf Air and SAUDIA will cooperate to expand their footprints regionally and internationally by sharing their codes and offering guests the signature warmth of Arabian hospitality.” -Gulf Air statement

Expanding the network of seamless travel

Commencing in time for the upcoming summer schedule of 2021, this codeshare agreement will allow Bahrain’s Gulf Air and Saudi Arabia’s Saudia to offer more choices of domestic destinations in Saudi Arabia and other international destinations across each airline’s network.

For those unfamiliar with codeshare agreements, this type of arrangement means that travelers can book journeys with one airline that may also include a flight with the other, all under one itinerary. Connections are guaranteed, and Gulf Air’s Falconflyer members will be able to earn and redeem miles when flying on applicable Saudia routes.

Meanwhile, Saudia Al Fursan frequent flyer members traveling with Gulf Air on applicable routes will be eligible to earn and redeem miles for flights operated by either carrier.

Let’s take a look at the destinations under the codeshare agreement.

Gulf Air has a single hub at Bahrain International Airport. Photo: Gulf Air

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Gulf Air’s GF code on Saudia flights

Placing its GF code on Saudia flights will allow travelers from Bahrain to access numerous domestic destinations within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia via the major Saudia hubs of Jeddah and Riyadh. Additionally, one international Saudia destination has been added to the list. The Saudi Arabian destinations are as follows:

• Abha,
• Jizan,
• Yanbu,
• Aljouf,
• Ha’il.

Tunis–Carthage airport in Tunisia is the one international destination with a GF code used for a Saudia flight.

From Bahrain, Gulf Air travelers can connect through Saudia’s two main hubs to access six additional destinations. Photo: GCMap.com

Saudia’s SV code on Gulf Air flights

The agreement will also see Saudia’s SV code on two Gulf Air flights to Saudi Arabia- Riyadh and Jeddah. Additionally, the code will be placed on Gulf Air flights to the following cities:

• Baku (Azerbaijan),
• Tbilisi (Georgia),
• Sialkot (Pakistan),
• Faisalabad (Pakistan),
• and Multan (Pakistan).

A visualization of the Gulf Air routes offering a Saudia code. Photo: GCMap.com

“Saudia and Gulf Air are key partners in connecting guests on each carriers’ diverse route networks. Both airlines have a long history of partnership, in which this expanded codeshare agreement further enhances connectivity, convenience and flexibility for travelers.” -Captain Ibrahim S. Koshy, CEO, Saudia

This seems to be a smart move considering the intense competition present in the region, particularly with airlines like Qatar Airways, flydubai, Emirates, and more. This will most benefit Saudi Arabian travelers, offering an additional option for certain international destinations rather than connecting through Doha or Dubai.

What do you think of this new codeshare agreement? Have you flown on either airline before? Share thoughts and experiences by leaving a comment.

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