Riyadh Air and IBM Unveil World’s First AI-Native Airline

December 8, 2025

Details

  • IBM and Riyadh Air introduced Riyadh Air as the world’s first airline built entirely on an AI-native foundation, announced at IBM Think Riyadh 2025 on December 8, 2025, sidestepping legacy systems.
  • This three-year collaboration enlists IBM Consulting, IBM watsonx Orchestrate, and support from over 60 technology partners including Adobe, Apple, FLYR, and Microsoft, spanning 59 coordinated workstreams to enable the airline’s digital ecosystem.
  • AI is deployed throughout the organization: creating personalized digital workplaces and chat-based HR agents for employees, agentic AI support for crew, AI-assisted customer service via voice bots, and automated enterprise planning and forecasting.
  • Initial flights are already underway, with commercial service scheduled for early 2026, as the airline pursues a rapid scale-up and doubles its workforce in a year leveraging AI-driven HR automation.
  • The launch aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, aiming to connect over 100 destinations and serve millions, while establishing a global benchmark for AI-led airline operations.

Impact

Riyadh Air’s all-AI approach sets a new benchmark for digital transformation in aviation by building operations from scratch without legacy constraints. The partnership highlights IBM’s leadership in AI orchestration, offering a blueprint for future enterprise-scale AI. Aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the airline’s debut positions both Riyadh Air and IBM at the forefront of industry innovation.

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