January 12, 2026
by
Airports AI Alliance
Riyadh Air and IBM have released details of the AI-based architecture that will support the airline as it moves towards a full commercial launch.
According to IBM, the airline’s systems have been designed without legacy platforms, using a unified architecture developed with IBM Consulting. Artificial intelligence will be embedded across core workflows from the outset.
The work spans 59 technology workstreams and involved coordination with more than 60 global partners across areas such as passenger systems, crew management and operational planning. IBM’s watsonx Orchestrate will be used to automate selected employee tasks and support internal workflows.
Adam Boukadida, Chief Financial Officer, Riyadh Air, said: “We had a clear choice to be the last airline built on legacy technology or the first built on the platforms that will define the next decade of aviation.”
Riyadh Air and IBM said the model aims to bring together employee tools, customer-facing platforms and operational systems in a single digital environment. This includes developing AI-supported workplaces for staff and integrating data flows across airport operations, flight operations and customer service. Riyadh Air was founded in 2023 by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund the Public Investment Fund.
Mohamad Ali, Senior Vice President at IBM Consulting, said: “By embedding AI into the very foundation of its operations, Riyadh Air is setting a new blueprint for what it means to build a modern, adaptive enterprise from the ground up. As a company born in the AI era, Riyadh Air is redefining what’s possible in aviation.”
Riyadh Air plans to use AI-supported tools across both internal and passenger-facing systems as it moves towards launching a full commercial service.
The carrier is expected to begin passenger flights in early 2026, with additional system deployments planned as operations expand.
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