Saudia and Lufthansa City Center International Sign 2025 Cooperation Agreement to Capture Growing Market Demand

Frankfurt, 13 March 2025

Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, and Lufthansa City Center International, the franchise headquarters of 320 international Lufthansa City Center travel agencies in 109 countries, announce the official signing of their renewed cooperation agreement for 2025. The milestone event took place during the recent ITB Berlin, the world's leading travel trade show, marking the continuation of their strong partnership and a shared commitment to future growth.

Fostering Growth Through Partnership

During their meeting at ITB Berlin, Saudia and LCC International solidified their 2025 collaboration, outlining a shared vision and collaborative strategy to drive future growth. The discussions focused on improving customer experiences and identifying opportunities for joint initiatives in both B2B and B2C markets.

A key highlight of the renewed partnership is the implementation of the Flex Travel Solutions (FTS) incentive management system. This advanced platform will enable LCC agencies to track growth and incentives in real time, providing improved transparency and operational efficiency. FTS equips agencies with instant access to critical performance metrics and incentive structures, enabling data-driven decision-making and promoting business agility.

Expanding Horizons with Saudia’s Growing Network

The partnership also capitalizes on Saudia’s expanding route network, offering LCC agencies increased travel options and enhanced global connectivity. The addition of new destinations strengthens Saudia’s footprint and provides LCC agencies with more opportunities to deliver seamless travel experiences to clients.

This strategic alignment supports both partners’ missions to offer greater convenience, efficiency and premium service to travelers worldwide.

Executive Insights

"We are proud to solidify our continued partnership with all international LCC agencies throughout the globe," said Alexander Gali, General Manager Sales Strategy of Saudia. “Our collaboration with LCC International reflects Saudia’s ongoing commitment to strengthening global partnerships that drive value and growth. ITB Berlin provided the perfect platform to align our strategies and reaffirm our shared commitment to delivering exceptional travel experiences. The launch of FTS and the addition of new destinations further reinforce our joint efforts to enhance operational excellence and expand travel possibilities for our guests.”

Heiko Brix, Managing Director of LCC International, added, “We are excited to continue our strong partnership and move forward together, enhancing our services and expanding our reach to meet the evolving needs of travelers worldwide. The introduction of FTS represents a significant leap in digital innovation, allowing us to track performance and incentives in real time. Combined with Saudia’s growing network of destinations, this cooperation will drive even greater value for our agencies and customers alike.”

About Saudia

Saudia (Saudia Airlines) is the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Established in 1945, the company has grown to become one of the Middle East’s largest airlines.

Saudia has invested significantly in upgrading its aircraft and currently operates one of the youngest fleet, with 144 aircraft. The airline serves an extensive global route network covering around 100 destinations across four continents, including all 28 domestic airports in Saudi Arabia.

A member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO), Saudia has also been a member airline in SkyTeam, the second largest alliance, since 2012.

Saudia was recently awarded the "World Class Airline 2025" for the fourth consecutive year at The APEX Official Airline Ratings™ awards. Saudia has also advanced 11 places in the Skytrax airlines ranking of the World Best Airlines 2023. The Airline also ranked top among global airlines for best on-time performance (OTP) according to a report by Cirium.

For more information on Saudia, please visit www.saudia.com

About Lufthansa City Center

Lufthansa City Center (LCC) is the world's largest independent network in the travel agency market with 600 offices in 110 countries and a total turnover of 7.6 billion Euros (business year 2024). LCC operates in both the leisure (tourism) and corporate (business travel) sectors. The chain of owner-managed, medium-sized travel agencies includes 280 offices with around 1,800 employees in Germany. Outside of its home market, the travel agency network employs around 5,700 people in 320 offices. Lufthansa City Center International GmbH, headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, is responsible for all global agencies. LCC offers a global program with local relevance, ensuring exceptional customer service through a unique balance of worldwide presence and locally adapted capabilities. Further information is available at www.lufthansa-city-center.com/en.