IBM is providing WatsonX and consulting services to Riyadh Air as it prepares for its inaugural flights later this year.

The agreement will see the airline leverage IBM technology to drive its vision as the world’s first digital native airline, improving the experience for passengers.

Riyadh Air will integrate WatsonX, IBM’s portfolio of AI products, to establish an enterprise-wide AI capability to elevate passenger and employee experiences. As Riyadh Air prepares for its inaugural flights in late 2025, the new Saudi Arabian airline sets another building block of its journey to become the world’s first digital native carrier.

Building an 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 by making AI the driving force behind its transformation.

The announcement took place at last month’s FII Priority Miami Summit, where senior executives from both IBM and Riyadh Air, including Adam Boukadida, Riyadh Air chief financial officer, and Mohamad Ali, IBM senior vice president, reaffirmed their commitment to driving innovation in the aviation sector.

“Riyadh Air is more than just an airline, it is a gateway to new opportunities for travellers from the kingdom and beyond,” said Boukadida. “As we move closer to our first flight later in 2025, our vision is to deliver a seamless, world-class travel experience by expanding our reach, pioneering innovations and redefining industry standards. By deepening our collaboration with IBM, we are harnessing the power of AI, from intelligent customer interactions to optimised flight operations, to set a new benchmark for the future of aviation.”

This agreement aims to strengthen Riyadh Air’s position as a digital-native airline, building on IBM’s AI-driven products and consulting as its lead systems integrator. WatsonX (www.ibm.com/watsonx) will serve as the foundation for Riyadh Air’s AI platform, driving mission-critical functions and fostering open innovation with multi-model AI. The 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 personalised system interactions.

IBM will oversee the installation and deployment of WatsonX, as well as develop AI use cases using IBM Garage methodology to drive automation and digital transformation.

With IBM Consulting Advantage (www.ibm.com/consulting/advantage), an AI-powered delivery platform, Riyadh Air will deploy AI to boost efficiency and service, including AI-powered virtual assistants for customer and employee self-service.

“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,” said Ali. “Together we are supercharging our teams with AI to enhance traveller experiences, optimise operations, and shape the future of aviation in Saudi Arabia and beyond.”

IBM’s immersive engagement model played a role in the expanded relationship. Hands-on AI workshops showcased real-world benefits for passengers and employees, and IBM (www.ibm.com) offered AI technology and enterprise services into an integrated offering tailored to Riyadh Air’s digital goals. Additionally, IBM Consulting Advantage allows Riyadh Air employees and IBM consultants to work side by side to deliver innovation, scalable options and accelerated value.

Launched in March 2023, Riyadh Air (www.riyadhair.com) will be a digitally-led, full-service airline that adopts global sustainability and safety practices across its fleet. It will connect passengers to more than 100 destinations around the world by 2030.