Riyadh Air and Huawei Sign MoU to Advance Digital Capabilities and Shape the Future of Air Travel
Riyadh Air has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Huawei to enhance its digital capabilities and deliver seamless, data-driven, and highly engaging travel experiences, as part of the Kingdom’s new national carrier’s ambition to become one of the world’s most digitally advanced airlines.
The partnership brings together Riyadh Air’s global growth strategy and Huawei’s technological expertise to elevate how travelers discover, book, and experience air travel. It builds on earlier cooperation between the two parties in smart aviation and digital innovation and represents a significant step forward in Riyadh Air’s long-term digital transformation journey.
Under the MoU, Riyadh Air and Huawei will adopt a phased approach to developing a next-generation digital ecosystem, beginning with a strategic focus on the Chinese market, alongside other priority international markets. Following the achievement of key milestones, Huawei will support Riyadh Air’s broader digital transformation by leveraging its capabilities in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, mobility services, and integrated digital ecosystems.
China represents a core pillar of the airline’s growth strategy, given its importance to Riyadh Air’s plan to connect more than 100 global destinations. According to TechInsights, around 20 percent of smartphone users in China use Huawei devices, providing Riyadh Air with an opportunity to tap into Huawei’s strong local presence and technology platforms to build a market-specific digital ecosystem. This ecosystem will be tailored to China’s unique social media landscape and consumer behavior, enabling personalized, seamless, and data-driven travel experiences.
As the partnership evolves, collaboration will expand into additional areas of digital innovation, including marketing, loyalty programs, cloud services, and advanced technologies. The focus will be on co-creating future-ready digital solutions that enhance the end-to-end passenger journey and help define a new era of smart, connected aviation.
Commenting on the partnership, Vincent Coste, Chief Commercial Officer of Riyadh Air, said that the Chinese market is a critical component of the airline’s global expansion and Saudi Arabia’s tourism growth ambitions. He noted that, as the Kingdom increases its target to 150 million tourists by 2030, the collaboration with Huawei will strengthen Riyadh Air’s ability to deliver the seamless, personalized digital journeys that Chinese travelers increasingly expect.
Coste added that Riyadh Air aims to serve as a bridge enhancing air connectivity between Saudi Arabia and China. He highlighted that Huawei devices have more than 730 million monthly active users globally, who will be introduced to Riyadh Air’s digital lifestyle ecosystem, Sfeer, as part of the airline’s customer engagement strategy.
Peak Yin, CEO KSA at Huawei Consumer Business Group, described Riyadh Air as a digital-native and future-focused national carrier, noting that Huawei is committed to supporting the airline with its leading global technologies. He emphasized that the partnership is designed as a continuously evolving collaboration, enabling both parties to innovate together, enhance every stage of the travel experience, and push the boundaries of what technology can deliver for the aviation industry and its guests.
With a goal of connecting to more than 100 destinations by 2030, Riyadh Air considers strong digital partnerships a cornerstone of its strategy. By combining its international ambitions with Huawei’s technological expertise, the airline aims to redefine the passenger experience, enhance global connectivity, and help shape the future of smart, digitally enabled air travel.