Riyadh Air is being built from the ground up as the world’s first “AI-Native” airline, designed to operate without the constraints of decades of legacy aviation technology.
The Saudi Arabia’s upcoming national carrier, is collaborating with IBM to build its operational foundation as the world’s first “AI-native” airline. Scheduled for its initial commercial services in early 2026, the airline is developing its entire technology stack from the ground up, bypassing traditional legacy systems.
IBM Consulting is leading this extensive integration effort, coordinating over 60 partners to embed advanced AI across all aspects of the airline. Key to this strategy is the use of IBM watsonx Orchestrate, which is deploying agentic AI to automate workflows and enhance employee experiences. This includes personalized digital workplaces for staff and context-aware recommendations for crew members interacting with guests.
The airline aims to leverage both generative and agentic AI to streamline internal operations, from financial planning to customer support. Initial operational flights are underway, focused on testing and refining these AI-driven systems in preparation for the upcoming passenger service.
