Riyadh Air builds itself on IBM's AI from the start, with most tools still to come
Riyadh Air, launched in 2023, is building what IBM calls the world's first "AI-native" airline, with watsonx at the core and no legacy systems to work around. IBM's December 2025 announcement described only the finance planning suite as implemented. AI tools for staff, crew and customer care were still to be introduced.
The operating picture
No legacy to work around
Hamburg-Finkenwerder Airport Airbus Industrie Riyadh Air Airbus A321-271NY XLR F-WWBZ (DSC00615). Photograph: MarcelX42 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped to fit). Illustrates the airline, not an AI deployment.
Most airlines add AI to systems built decades ago. Riyadh Air, the Saudi carrier launched in March 2023, has been built with IBM Consulting as lead integrator and IBM's watsonx as the base for AI across the company. The programme spans 59 workstreams and more than 60 partners, including Adobe, Apple, FLYR and Microsoft, according to IBM.
IBM said in a May 2026 case study that watsonx Orchestrate coordinates specialised AI agents across commercial, operational and service work, and that AI agents support human staff in guest care. The airline's offer and order retailing runs on FLYR's platform; FLYR's own release does not describe the platform's AI.
Selected implementations
The work behind the evidence
01 / Contracted
An operating model built around AI, part complete
The operational problem
A new airline has to choose its systems once. Built on legacy airline software, it would inherit the same patchwork it set out to avoid.
What the evidence reports
IBM and Riyadh Air said in February 2025 that watsonx would underpin the airline's AI platform, with AI agents and virtual assistants planned for customers and staff. On 8 December 2025 they announced an operating model built around AI. The release described an AI concierge for employees built on watsonx Orchestrate, AI crew apps that link staff and guest journeys, for example prompting staff to offer fast track to passengers running late, and AI voice bots and agent assistance in customer care. Of these, only the enterprise performance management suite for planning, budgeting and forecasting was described as implemented. Adam Boukadida, chief financial officer, said: "With IBM, we've stripped out fifty years of legacy in a single stroke."
Operational significance
Riyadh Air is the clearest test of whether an airline designed around AI from the start runs differently from one that adds it later.
Evidence still needed
Apart from the finance suite, the tools were described as planned in December 2025. IBM's May 2026 case study describes agents in use but gives no measures of what they handle or how well.
IBM case study - Riyadh Air (AI-enabled retailing) · Evidence grade C
A source can verify an announcement without verifying its projected outcome.
The wider register
Other tracked activity
Other records are shown separately, including non-AI technology and programmes at different stages of deployment. A register entry does not establish a measured AI benefit.
FLYR offer-and-order retailing platform at Riyadh Air · Reported · unverified
A source can verify an announcement without verifying its projected outcome.
Panasonic Astrova with Modular Interactive selected by Riyadh Air · Reported · unverified
Riyadh Air will be the first airline to launch Panasonic Avionics' Modular Interactive, which it has chosen for its Astrova inflight entertainment launch, Panasonic said on 9 April 2025.
A source can verify an announcement without verifying its projected outcome.
Sabre offer-and-order and distribution agreements with Riyadh Air · Contracted
Riyadh Air has entered into a strategic agreement with Sabre and will deploy SabreMosaic Air Price IQ, Ancillary IQ, Bundle IQ, Upgrade IQ and Continuous Revenue Optimizer, which Sabre says are powered by Sabre Travel AI, according to the company's announcement of 10 October 2024.
A second deal followed. On 13 May 2025 Sabre said it had signed a global distribution agreement making it Riyadh Air's first GDS partner, for both NDC and traditional fares.
A source can verify an announcement without verifying its projected outcome.
Editorial assessment
Riyadh Air's AI plans are among the most ambitious in the register, and it has the least operating history to judge them by.
The evidence that matters next is which of the planned staff, crew and customer tools are live, and what they do once the airline is flying at scale.
Live data from the Aerostack register. Status reflects published evidence only. See Our approach for how records are graded.
Aerostack register · 5 tracked deployments
Aerostack tracks AI deployments across airports and airlines, with the published evidence behind each record. Photography is real aviation imagery. Record thumbnails may show the named airport or airline; other photographs do not.
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