Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Air has signed a memorandum of understanding with China's Huawei aimed at strengthening the Saudi airline's digital capabilities and developing an integrated technology ecosystem that supports the various stages of the travel experience, as part of Riyadh Air's drive to build a digital operating model based on modern technologies.
Under the memorandum, the two sides will cooperate on developing advanced digital systems covering cloud computing, artificial intelligence and mobility services, helping to improve the customer experience, from searching for destinations and booking flights to the various stages of travel, according to a press release published on the company's website.
Riyadh Air explained that the partnership with Huawei will be implemented in a phased approach, with an initial focus on the Chinese market along with a number of key international markets, with Huawei supporting the airline's comprehensive digital transformation by drawing on its technical expertise in developing integrated digital systems.
The Chinese Market Within the Growth Strategy
The Chinese market is an important focus in the early phases of the partnership, in light of Riyadh Air's plans to expand its network and connect the Kingdom to more than 100 destinations around the world.
In this context, Vincent Coste, Chief Commercial Officer of Riyadh Air, explained that China is one of the key markets in the company's global expansion plans, in parallel with the Kingdom's target of attracting 150 million tourists by 2030, noting that the partnership with Huawei aims to deliver a digital experience that meets the requirements and expectations of travelers from the Chinese market.
Coste added that Riyadh Air, as the new Saudi airline, seeks to strengthen air connectivity between the Kingdom and China, helping to facilitate travel and communication between the two countries, and said that Huawei device users will be able to benefit from the features of the company's loyalty program, Sfeer, within an integrated digital ecosystem.
Digital Indicators Supporting the Partnership
The focus on the Chinese market comes in light of the wide spread of Huawei devices in this market, as estimates from TechInsights indicate that about 20% of smartphone users in China rely on Huawei devices, providing a broad technology environment that can be built upon to develop customized digital solutions suited to the nature of this market.
Riyadh Air also explained that the number of active Huawei device users worldwide exceeds 730 million monthly active users, which offers opportunities to expand the scope of digital integration with the company's platforms and various programs, including loyalty programs and digital services related to the travel experience.
Future Areas of Cooperation
Areas of cooperation between the two sides are expected to expand in the coming phases to include a number of digital solutions, including marketing, loyalty programs, cloud services and advanced technologies, with a focus on joint innovation in developing digital solutions that support the travel experience.
For his part, Peck Ying, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group in Saudi Arabia, explained that the cooperation with Riyadh Air reflects the company's commitment to supporting the aviation sector by employing the latest digital technologies, noting that Huawei will provide its technical expertise to support the development of digital experiences for travelers from China and various global markets.
He stressed that the partnership is based on a long-term collaborative approach that allows both parties to innovate jointly and expand the use of advanced technologies in the aviation industry.
The cooperation comes at a time when Riyadh Air continues to build a broad international network connecting the Kingdom with a large number of global destinations by 2030, with digital partnerships as one of the elements supporting this direction.
To view the post on the Riyadh Air website, click here.
