Saudi and Vietnam flag carriers agree codeshare

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Saudia and Vietnam Airlines sign codeshare agreement

Saudi Arabia’s national airline Saudia has signed a codeshare agreement with Vietnam Airlines to boost connectivity between the two countries and journeys between the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

The agreement covers travel on flights connecting Jeddah and Riyadh with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, with passengers able to book with either airline across both networks.

It also means passengers can earn points or miles when flying with either airline, as part of their frequent flyer programmes.

In 2024, passenger traffic between Saudi and Vietnam rose 64%, with the kingdom’s simplified e-visa making travel simpler for Vietnamese citizens.

This move by the airlines should see more visitors from Vietnam discovering Saudi’s unique tourism offering as the kingdom pushes forward with Vision 2030 plans to transform the economy and attract more than 150 million visitors a year.

From an outbound perspective, Middle East travel platform Wego has identified Vietnam as a breakout destination for Saudi travellers in 2025, recording a 322% surge in search volume.

Vietnam is a rising destination for Saudi travellers

Wego says this is largely thanks to the increase in luxury, halal-compliant resorts and a dramatic drop in airfares, with round-trip flights available for as low as SAR1,400, a significant decrease compared to previous years.

Commenting on the agreement, Arved von zur Muehlen, Chief Commercial Officer at Saudia, said: “This codeshare agreement underscores Saudia’s commitment to offer more destinations to guests to explore and enhance connectivity, securing a seamless travel experience, being both members of SkyTeam."

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He added: “By collaborating with esteemed national carriers, we continue to expand our global network, aligning with our strategic objectives to foster economic growth and cultural exchange.”

Vietnam Airlines flies to 39 international destinations including key Asian capitals Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, Bangkok and Singapore and the airline was named in AirlineRating’s top 25 safest full-service airlines in 2025.

The Vietnam Airlines agreement comes hot on the heels of Saudia’s deal with Canada’s WestJet, which includes single-connection access to Jeddah via Toronto Pearson, as well as Jeddah and Riyadh from London Heathrow and Paris Charles de Gaulle.

Arved von zur Muehlen said the partnership with WestJet reflects Saudia’s commitment to offering guests more destinations through key international gateways.

“Canada is now closer than ever, and we are also offering a seamless journey for travellers from Canada to explore Saudi Arabia and experience its unique culture, heritage and hospitality,” he said.

For more information, visit www.saudia.com

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