Riyadh Air signs global distribution agreement with Amadeus

The airline's growth is set to take off

New national carrier of Saudi Arabia, Riyardh Air, has signed a global distribution agreement with Amadeus. 

The strategic partnership will enable Riyadh Air, which used to be the nation's second flag carrier after Saudia, access to the travel tech giant's network of travel sellers, one of the largest global networks of travel sellers.

This is inline with its ambitious growth plans and playing a key role in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s broader transformation agenda under Vision 2030 and to support promotion of Saudia Arabia as a tourism destination.

Vincent Coste, chief commercial officer at Riyadh Air, said: “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”. 

As part of the agreement, Amadeus will also distribute Riyadh Air’s future NDC content. 

Maher Koubaa, executive vice president, travel unit and managing director EMEA of Amadeus, added: “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. 

"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.” 

The airline is expected to contribute over $20 billion to the Kingdom’s non-oil GDP and generate more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs.