Delta Air Traces stated Tuesday it has entered right into a partnership with startup Riyadh Air with the purpose of working flights between america and Saudi Arabia.

Riyadh Air, which plans to start passenger flights subsequent summer time, is backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign-wealth fund and is a part of the nation’s plan to diversify its oil-based economic system and increase tourism. 

Atlanta-based Delta and Riyadh didn’t give a timetable for starting flights or monetary particulars round their partnership. Their CEOs stated neither airline is taking an possession stake within the different.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian and Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas stated they envision promoting tickets on one another’s flights — a apply generally known as codesharing — that requires approval from the U.S. Transportation Division.

They stated the partnership might develop right into a full-blown three way partnership. That step would require immunity from U.S. antitrust legal guidelines for the carriers to collaborate on costs and share income.

Bastian stated he expects a lot of the early site visitors to be passengers flying to america, however that it’ll even out over time as tourism to Saudi Arabia grows.

No U.S. airline flies to Saudi Arabia. Saudia, the dominion’s flag service, operates nonstop flights between Saudi Arabia and New York, Dulles Worldwide Airport exterior Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.