IBM and Riyadh Airways have announced a partnership to launch Riyadh Airline, which claims to be the world's first AI-native airline. Built entirely from the ground up, without legacy patchwork systems, these AI-driven operations are redefining innovation in the aviation industry while establishing a new standard for improving guest and employee experiences.
Riyadh Air will leverage IBM Consulting's extensive industry knowledge and technical capabilities, extensive partner network, and IBM watsonx Orchestrate to function as an AI-native entity from the outset.
According to the announcement, the first flight is already underway and the first commercial service is scheduled for early 2026.
“By embedding AI into the very foundation of its operations, Riyadh Air is setting a new blueprint for what it means to build a modern, adaptive enterprise from the ground up,” said Mohammad Ali, senior vice president at IBM Consulting.
Riyadh Air is reinventing the travel experience by integrating generative and agent AI into its operations, creating a seamless interaction between technology and human service. As the company plans to double its workforce, the personalized digital workplace will support employees with a chat-first platform to streamline HR processes.
AI-powered mobile applications use IBM watsonx Orchestrate to develop proactive concierge experiences that anticipate guest needs and enhance the employee and guest journey. Additionally, AI-powered voice bots and agent assistance tools can empower customer care agents to provide personalized support, improving the traveler experience while upholding human values.
“We had a clear choice: be the last airline built on legacy technology, or be the first airline built on a platform that will define the next decade of aviation,” said Adam Boukadida, Riyadh Air's chief financial officer.
The two companies have partnered to create an AI-driven company with a digital strategy and operating model that will expand Saudi Arabia's connectivity to more than 100 destinations and serve millions of travelers by 2030, the statement said.
