Having taken off together 20 months ago, Riyadh Air has yet again enlarged its collaboration with IBM – this time to tap into the disruptive potential of AI in the world of aviation.
Announced in March 2023, Riyadh Air is a new airline that aims to become one of the region’s largest airlines. Backed by the Saudi government, Riyadh Air expects its first flight to take off in 2025, and aims to connect passengers to over 100 destinations around the world by 2030. Its inaugural flight is planned for late 2025.
IBM and its consulting subsidiary, IBM Consulting, were quickly onboarded as its lead digital partner, and over the course of their collaboration to date, the partnership was expanded into other areas such as customer experience and travel experience.
The latest scope added into the agreement will see IBM help Riyadh Air embed AI within its decision-making and operations, supporting its ambition to become a truly digital-native airline.
“Our vision is to deliver a seamless, world-class travel experience. Building a world-class airline requires more than just aircraft and infrastructure; it demands an intelligent digital foundation that anticipates passenger needs, streamlines operations, and empowers employees. Riyadh Air is embracing this challenge by making AI the driving force behind its transformation,” explained Adam Boukadida, Chief Financial Officer at Riyadh Air.
IBM's portfolio of AI products will serve as the foundation for Riyadh Air’s AI platform, driving mission-critical functions and fostering open innovation with multi-model AI. The new platform will be built with a focus on data security, privacy, regulatory compliance, and responsible AI adoption. Riyadh Air will also leverage Agentic AI to deploy autonomous bots to enable seamless and personalized system interactions.
IBM will oversee the installation and deployment of watsonx, as well as develop AI use cases to drive automation and digital transformation. IBM Consulting meanwhile will lead the delivery of transformation and change.
“By deepening our collaboration with IBM, we are harnessing the power of AI, from intelligent customer interactions to optimized flight operations, to set a new benchmark for the future of aviation,” noted Boukadida.
Mohamad Ali, Senior Vice President and Head of IBM Consulting, stated: “By embedding watsonx at the core of its operations, Riyadh Air is taking an AI-first approach to redefine air travel and set new industry standards as the world’s first digital-native airline. Together we are supercharging our teams with AI to enhance traveler experiences, optimize operations, and shape the future of aviation in Saudi Arabia and beyond.”