At IBM Think Riyadh 2025, IBM and Riyadh Air unveiled Riyadh Air as the world’s first airline built as an AI‑native enterprise. Designed without legacy systems, the airline’s operations are structured to transform guest and employee experiences and set a new benchmark for aviation innovation.
Riyadh Air is working with IBM Consulting, which coordinated 59 workstreams and more than 60 partners including Adobe, Apple, FLYR and Microsoft. Using IBM watsonx Orchestrate and IBM Consulting Advantage, the airline has implemented an end‑to‑end technology strategy from day one. With initial flights underway and commercial service expected in early 2026, the three‑year collaboration has reached a pivotal stage.
The airline is embedding AI across employee and customer touchpoints, introducing a digital workplace powered by AI agents to simplify HR and self‑service workflows, mobile applications to support tailored service and proactive guest engagement, and AI‑enabled voice bots and agent assist tools to deliver contextual, personalised support. Operationally, IBM Consulting has implemented an enterprise performance management suite to unify financial, operational and commercial data. This foundation automates planning, forecasting and analysis, enabling real‑time insights, route optimisation and stronger business performance.
Together, Riyadh Air and IBM have built an AI‑native enterprise with the digital strategy, architecture and operating models to support the airline’s ambition of serving more than 100 destinations and millions of travellers by 2030.
Mohamad Ali, senior vice president, IBM Consulting, said: “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.”
“We had a clear choice – be the last airline built on legacy technology or the first built on the platforms that will define the next decade of aviation,” stated Adam Boukadida, chief financial officer, Riyadh Air.
“With IBM, we’ve stripped out fifty years of legacy in a single stroke. Riyadh Air isn’t just built for today; it’s built for the future and creating a pathway for many airlines to follow in the years to come.”
