Riyadh Air Taps Amadeus for Distribution & Vision 2030

Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s newest national airline, is set to revolutionize global air travel and significantly bolster the Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030 tourism goals through a landmark partnership with Amadeus. This strategic collaboration, announced in August 2023, positions Riyadh Air to leverage Amadeus’s cutting-edge technology for enhanced global distribution, offering unprecedented reach and seamless booking experiences for travel partners and passengers worldwide.

By adopting the Amadeus Altéa Passenger Service System (PSS) suite, Riyadh Air gains a robust foundation for its core airline operations, including reservations, inventory management, and departure control. Crucially, the integration with the Amadeus Distribution System will connect Riyadh Air to Amadeus’s extensive global network of travel sellers, including agencies, corporations, and online travel agencies. This move is vital for a start-up airline aiming for rapid global expansion, ensuring its flight content is easily discoverable, bookable, and purchasable across diverse markets. For travel professionals, this partnership translates into simplified access to Riyadh Air’s offerings, streamlining the booking process and opening up new opportunities in the burgeoning Saudi Arabian market.

This alliance is more than just a technology upgrade; it’s a strategic enabler for Saudi Arabia’s transformative Vision 2030. Riyadh Air is poised to be a key driver in attracting the targeted 100 million annual visitors, facilitating 250 million tourist trips, and contributing SAR 100 billion (approximately USD 27 billion) to the national GDP. The airline’s commitment to launching operations in 2025 and serving over 100 destinations globally by 2030 directly aligns with these national aspirations. As a full-service, digitally native carrier, Riyadh Air aims to set new standards in passenger experience, making Saudi Arabia an even more attractive and accessible destination for international travelers. This partnership with Amadeus ensures that the airline has the digital backbone to support its global ambitions from day one, fostering growth for the airline and immense opportunities for the global travel industry ecosystem.

Key Points

• Airline Name: Riyadh Air
• Ownership: Wholly owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF)
• Launch Date: Scheduled for 2025
• Aircraft Type: Initial fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners (39 firm orders, options for 33 more)
• Partnership: Amadeus
• Amadeus Solutions Deployed: Amadeus Altéa Passenger Service System (PSS) suite (reservations, inventory, departure control) and Amadeus Distribution System
• Riyadh Air Destination Goal: Over 100 destinations globally by 2030
• Saudi Vision 2030 Tourism Targets:
  • Total Annual Visitors: 100 million by 2030 (domestic and international)
  • International Visitors: 70 million by 2030
  • Total Tourist Trips: 250 million annually
  • Tourism Contribution to GDP: SAR 100 billion (approximately USD 27 billion)

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