IBM watsonx to Power Riyadh Air’s AI Transformation Strategy

The aviation industry is undergoing a substantial digital transformation. As Middle Eastern airlines expand their global footprint and Gulf states diversify their economies beyond oil dependency, AI has emerged as a critical differentiator for carriers seeking competitive advantage.

Saudi Arabia – through its Vision 2030 programme – has identified aviation as a strategic growth sector, with plans to increase passenger capacity and establish the Kingdom as a global transportation hub. This initiative has spawned several aviation projects, including the development of new airports and, more recently, through the creation of Riyadh Air: a carrier designed from inception to leverage digital technology.

Now, Riyadh Air has announced it has selected IBM to develop an enterprise-wide AI capability as it prepares for its inaugural flights in late 2025. The agreement will see IBM’s watsonx AI portfolio and consulting services deployed across the carrier's operations to enhance both passenger and employee experiences.

Under the agreement, IBM will serve as the lead systems integrator for Riyadh Air’s AI platform. watsonx, IBM’s enterprise AI product suite that enables organisations to train, tune and deploy AI models, will form the foundation of the airline’s digital infrastructure, driving mission-critical functions and fostering open innovation with multi-modal AI.

Adam Boukadida, Riyadh Air Chief Financial Officer, says: “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.”

IBM Consulting to implement watsonx across Riyadh Air’s passenger experience

The collaboration marks a significant step in Riyadh Air’s development as it positions itself as a digital-first airline. The carrier, owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, was launched in March 2023 with plans to connect over 100 destinations by 2030.

Riyadh Air plans to implement AI-powered virtual assistants for both customer and employee self-service, developed using IBM Consulting Advantage, an AI-enhanced delivery platform. The airline will also deploy agentic AI – autonomous software agents designed to enable personalised interactions with digital systems.

The new AI platform will be constructed with emphasis on data security, privacy, regulatory compliance and responsible AI adoption – considerations that have become increasingly important as airlines collect and process vast amounts of passenger data.

Mohamad Ali, Senior Vice President and Head of IBM Consulting, says: “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 traveller experiences, optimise operations, and shape the future of aviation in Saudi Arabia and beyond.”

Saudi Arabia’s aviation ambitions supported by technology investment

Riyadh Air’s AI-driven strategy is closely aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic diversification plan, which aims to position the Kingdom as a global aviation hub serving 330 million passengers annually by the end of the decade. By embedding AI across its ecosystem, the airline intends to create a comprehensive, intelligent and personalised travel experience designed to adapt to the evolving needs of travellers worldwide.

The airline plans to equip its aircraft with advanced digital in-flight entertainment systems and connectivity solutions, offering what it describes as “an authentic, warm Saudi hospitality at its heart.”

IBM, a provider of global hybrid cloud and AI solutions, serves more than 4,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas including financial services, telecommunications and healthcare. The company’s involvement with Riyadh Air extends its presence in the Middle East aviation sector, where digital transformation initiatives are accelerating.

Adam Boukadida says: “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.”

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