Riyadh Air has announced a strategic partnership with IBM to build what the company describes as an AI native airline, aiming to introduce advanced artificial intelligence across commercial operations when its first flights take off in early 2026. The collaboration is part of the airline’s long term digital roadmap, where AI systems will be embedded into core functions including customer service, flight operations, crew management and real time decision support.
The agreement outlines a multiyear plan in which IBM Consulting will work closely with Riyadh Air to design, test and deploy AI powered systems that operate in an agentic model. These systems are expected to automate routine processes, enhance operational efficiency and support human teams with continuous intelligence. Riyadh Air stated that the goal is to create a new model for digital aviation, where data and AI inform decisions at every stage of the passenger and operational journey.
Riyadh Air, which is backed by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, has positioned technology at the center of its expansion strategy. The airline has said it intends to use AI from day one of its commercial operations. The company believes that early adoption of next generation AI will help set new benchmarks for efficiency, safety and passenger experience. It also aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader national goals of building technology driven industries across multiple sectors.
IBM will support the airline using its expertise in data architecture, cloud infrastructure and industry specific AI development. The company has stated that its teams will help Riyadh Air transition from traditional automated workflows to dynamic, agentic systems capable of learning from real time inputs and responding without manual intervention. According to IBM’s announcements, these systems will be designed with strong governance and reliability controls to ensure transparency and compliance within an industry that operates under strict regulatory requirements.
Riyadh Air has suggested that AI will play a role in multiple layers of its operations. The airline plans to use real time data to predict maintenance needs, reduce flight delays, optimize aircraft turnaround times and improve safety monitoring. In customer facing areas, AI will support personalization, multilingual assistance, ticketing recommendations and disruption handling. The airline also intends to explore AI assisted crew scheduling and fuel optimization models.
Industry analysts note that aviation companies have increasingly turned to data driven technologies in the past decade, but the idea of an airline built natively on AI systems sets a new direction. Riyadh Air is among the first carriers to publicly commit to architecting its operations around AI from the ground up rather than retrofitting existing processes. This approach could provide long term advantages in efficiency and customer experience, though it will require substantial investment and careful integration into regulated aviation frameworks.
Riyadh Air’s leadership has stated that the partnership with IBM reflects a broader ambition to shape the next generation of global airlines. The collaboration is expected to continue through the airline’s launch phase and beyond, with both companies working on iterative improvements as new models of AI become available. The airline has emphasised that AI will support human decision making rather than replace it, particularly in safety critical environments.
IBM has highlighted the scale of the project and says it will leverage its global aviation experience along with advanced generative and predictive AI capabilities. The company indicated that the solutions being developed for Riyadh Air may influence technology adoption across the aviation sector if the model proves successful. The partnership also strengthens IBM’s presence in the Middle East, where governments and companies are accelerating digital transformation efforts.
Saudi Arabia has been expanding investments in transport infrastructure, tourism and technology as part of its Vision 2030 economic program. Riyadh Air is one of the central projects in this initiative, with the airline expected to support economic diversification and enhance global connectivity for the region. Building digital first operations is seen as key to differentiating the airline in a competitive global market.
Experts believe that the aviation industry is entering a phase where AI will have a major influence on operational design. Airlines are exploring new approaches to demand forecasting, route planning, safety analytics and customer engagement using machine learning. Riyadh Air’s move toward an AI native model signals how carriers may structure digital systems in the future, especially as advancements in generative and agentic AI accelerate.
The airline is currently working toward its first commercial flights in 2026. As development continues, Riyadh Air is expected to release additional details about deployment timelines, use cases and digital infrastructure. The partnership with IBM marks one of its most significant steps toward building technology driven operations that could reshape how modern airlines manage complexity at scale.