Riyadh Air partners with Huawei to build next-gen digital travel experience

Riyadh Air has signed a memorandum of understanding with Huawei to strengthen its digital capabilities and develop next-generation travel experiences as part of its global expansion strategy.

The partnership brings together Riyadh Air’s growth ambitions and Huawei’s technology expertise to enhance how passengers discover, book and experience travel with Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier. It builds on earlier collaboration between the two companies in smart aviation and digital innovation.

Under the agreement, the partners will adopt a phased approach to developing Riyadh Air’s digital ecosystem, beginning with a focus on China and other priority international markets. Huawei will support the airline’s broader digital transformation through its capabilities in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, mobility services and integrated digital platforms.

China has been identified as a key market within Riyadh Air’s network strategy, which aims to connect the airline to more than 100 global destinations. According to TechInsights, around 20 per cent of smartphone users in China use Huawei devices, offering opportunities to develop market-specific digital ecosystems tailored to local platforms and consumer behaviour.

Riyadh Air, Huawei forge digital alliance

Vincent Coste, Chief Commercial Officer of Riyadh Air, said: “China market is an important part of Riyadh Air’s global expansion and essential to Saudi Arabia’s tourism growth. As the Kingdom raises its target to 150 million tourists by 2030 our partnership with Huawei strengthens our ability to deliver the digital, seamless and personalised journey Chinese guests travellers expect.”

He added that Riyadh Air aims to enhance airline connectivity between Saudi Arabia and China, noting that Huawei devices have more than 730 million monthly active users globally, who will be introduced to the airline’s digital lifestyle ecosystem, Sfeer.

As the partnership evolves, collaboration will expand into digital innovation across marketing, loyalty programmes, cloud services and advanced technologies, with a focus on co-creating solutions to enrich the passenger experience and shape the future of connected aviation.

Peak Yin, CEO KSA, Huawei Consumer Business Group (CBG), said: “We have found a true partner in Riyadh Air, a digital-native, future-focused national carrier. Huawei is committed to supporting Riyadh Air with our best global technologies to co-create world-class digital experiences for travellers from China and around the world.”

He added: “This partnership is designed as a seamless and continuously evolving collaboration, enabling us to innovate together, elevating every stage of the travel experience and pushing the boundaries of what technology can bring to the aviation industry – and its guests.”

Riyadh Air said the agreement reflects its belief that strong digital partnerships are essential to delivering seamless, data-driven and highly engaging travel experiences as it works towards its goal of connecting more than 100 destinations by 2030.