Saudi Arabia’s new carrier Riyadh Air is going to create an artificial intelligence (AI) platform and build data analytics tools, thanks to a strategic alliance with international consulting firm Artefact.
The airline will look to improve its guest experience and service through intelligent channels and attain hyper-personalisation by utilising Artefact’s tools.
Additionally, by using real-time data insights and predictions, it can optimise both ground and flight operations.
With this partnership, Riyadh Air aims to transform the Kingdom’s aviation sector through the AI route.
“This partnership with Artefact builds upon our recent collaborations with leaders in the aviation industry. Through AI integration, we aim to redefine travel standards, offering personalised, seamless digital-first experience to our guests ahead of our maiden flight in 2025,” Abe Dev, vice president of Digital and Innovation at Riyadh Air, said, Arab News reported.
“Our partnership with Riyadh Air marks a significant milestone in our commitment to pioneering AI solutions tailored to the unique needs of the aviation industry,” CEO and Managing Partner of Artefact Middle East and North Africa, Rahul Arya said.
“By combining Riyadh Air’s forward-thinking approach with Artefact’s expertise in data and AI solutions, we’re poised to set new standards for innovation in the airline sector,” he added.
Riyadh Air is slated to launch in 2025 and will link the Kingdom to more than 100 destinations across the globe.
The goal of the National Tourism Strategy and the National Aviation Strategy is to bring 330 million tourists to the Kingdom annually by 2030, and this project helps achieve that goal.
Sabre Corp. of Texas and Riyadh Air signed a contract in February 2024, to improve the operational effectiveness of the airline.
The software and technology provider will assist the carrier in generating incremental revenue gains under the terms of this agreement, by providing end-to-end network planning and optimisation solutions.
The airline has selected a number of Sabre software products, including market intelligence, schedule manager, slot manager, and profit manager.
The airline, in March 2024, entered into another collaboration, this time with the American tech giant IBM. With the latter’s help, Riyadh Air plans to introduce next-generation, channel-fluid guest and traveller interactions, tapping into IBM Consulting’s open ecosystem of business partners and deep industry expertise spanning strategy, experience design, technology and operations.
The collaboration was announced in the third edition of LEAP 2024, the international technology conference held annually in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with Tony Douglas (Chief Executive Officer, Riyadh Air) and Arvind Krishna (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, IBM), apart from the executive management from both entities, gracing the landmark event.
Riyadh Air will harness IBM Consulting’s expertise across generative AI, experience orchestration, marketing and customer engagement platforms, mobile, web and in-flight applications. All of these capabilities will be accelerated through the proven and collaborative engagement model of IBM Garage, to help the new airline craft guest experiences that are culturally enriching across the travel journey.
IBM will utilise its Consulting Advantage and its capabilities including IBM Consulting Assistants, which are powered by IBM watsonx, and IBM iX Experience Orchestrator to help Riyadh Air to build and enhance their digital guest experience across mobile, web, and in-flight entertainment.
“IBM Consulting will also help streamline end-to-end customer experiences across digital channels, using a comprehensive technology portfolio. This work will be based on Adobe Experience Cloud and Adobe Experience Platform, spanning Adobe’s marketing and customer data solutions, digital experience orchestration, digital media activation and campaigns across web, mobile and social. Further, IBM Consulting aims to build for Riyadh Air a curated suite of apps for managing airline operations, empowering their employees to serve guests with ease and speed,” stated IBM Newsroom.
Saudi Arabia’s aviation and tourism plan, under its ambitious “Vision 2030” economic diversification agenda, aims to serve 330 million air passengers in the coming years, apart from increasing air cargo capacity to 4.5 million tons, and expanding air connectivity to more than 250 destinations. Riyadh Air, which was launched in March 2023, is gearing up for its inaugural flight in early 2025, as it aims to connect passengers to over 100 global destinations by 2030.
At the same point in time, through collaborations with Artefact and IBM, the airline wants to revolutionise the Kingdom’s aviation sector, by making elements like generative AI and data analytics parts of the Gulf nation’s hospitality playbook.