Riyadh Air, the new national carrier of Saudi Arabia, has signed a global distribution agreement with Amadeus, a global technology provider for the travel industry.
The partnership with Amadeus will give Riyadh Air access to one of the world’s largest networks of travel sellers, supporting its ambitious growth strategy and contributing to Saudi Arabia’s broader transformation goals outlined in Vision 2030.
By joining the platform, Riyadh Air will gain access to a global network of travel agencies and sellers in over 190 countries, ensuring its offers are available to travelers around the world.
This move will play a key role in boosting inbound tourism, showcasing Saudi Arabia as an attractive international destination, and supporting the Kingdom’s vision of becoming a major aviation and tourism hub.
Vincent Coste Chief Commercial Officer Riyadh Air
“Our mission is to create a truly world-class airline that reflects the ambition of Saudi Arabia. Partnering with Amadeus gives us the global reach, distribution power, and retailing capabilities needed to support our goal of flying to over 100 destinations by 2030. This partnership is not only about enabling seamless travel experiences, but also about contributing to the broader national vision of economic diversification, tourism growth, and enhanced global connectivity”.
Under the agreement, Amadeus will also distribute Riyadh Air’s future NDC (New Distribution Capability) content, enabling the airline to offer more dynamic and personalized travel options while gaining greater control over its indirect sales strategy. These advanced capabilities will enhance Riyadh Air’s ability to provide modern, flexible, and customer-focused retail experiences.
Maher Koubaa, Executive Vice President, Travel Unit and Managing Director EMEA, Amadeus, stated that, “The launch of Riyadh Air represents a major milestone for the Kingdom’s aviation industry, and we are proud to be their trusted technology partner from the very beginning.”
Koubaa also noted that, “Amadeus brings not only global reach, but also advanced retailing, merchandising, and data-driven tools that will help Riyadh Air differentiate itself on the global stage. We are excited to support Riyadh Air’s contribution to Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s aspirations to become a global tourism and travel leader.”
Unveiled in 2023 by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Riyadh Air is positioned to play a key role in driving forward Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
The airline aims to support the Kingdom’s efforts to diversify its economy, boost tourism and infrastructure investment, and build a globally competitive aviation sector. Riyadh Air is projected to contribute over $20 billion to the non-oil GDP and create more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs.
