Riyadh Air Takes Off as World’s First AI-Native Airline

Riyadh Air and IBM have announced the launch of the world’s first AI-native airline, designed from the ground up to run entirely on AI-powered operations, transforming both guest and employee experiences.

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What this means

• AI-native airline: Riyadh Air’s entire operating model is built on AI from day one, avoiding legacy patchwork.
• IBM’s role: IBM Consulting is orchestrating the initiative using its watsonx Orchestrate platform, aligning 59 workstreams with 60+ partners including Adobe, Apple, FLYR, and Microsoft.
• Guest experience: AI will unify and personalize journeys from booking to in-flight services.
• Employee experience: AI-driven workflows will streamline operations and provide real-time insights.

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Strategic context

• Saudi Vision 2030: Riyadh Air is a flagship project to diversify the economy and build a global aviation hub.
• Digital-first approach: Built as a digitally native airline for agility and scalability.
• Global precedent: First declared fully AI-native airline, likely to reshape industry standards.

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Risks & challenges

• Data privacy & security: Safeguarding sensitive passenger and operational data.
• Operational resilience: Ensuring robustness if algorithms or data pipelines fail.
• Regulatory hurdles: Adapting compliance and safety frameworks for AI-driven operations.
• Customer trust: Addressing skepticism about AI handling critical travel aspects.

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Why it matters

• Efficiency gains: Optimizes scheduling, fuel, and maintenance to reduce costs.
• Personalization: Hyper-tailored offers, services, and real-time updates.
• Industry disruption: Pressures competitors to accelerate AI adoption.

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Riyadh Air’s partnership with IBM positions it as a trailblazer in aviation technology, redefining airline operations and passenger interaction.

AI Skyways Takes Flight: Qatar Airways and Accenture Unite to Transform Air Travel Through AI

Qatar Airways and Accenture have launched a groundbreaking partnership called AI Skyways, aimed at transforming the aviation industry through advanced artificial intelligence technologies.

AI Skyways is a strategic initiative designed to:

• Elevate customer experience through personalized interactions and seamless travel journeys.
• Optimize operational efficiency by improving flight scheduling, predictive maintenance, and real-time decision-making.
• Enhance airline group performance across Qatar Airways’ global operations.

Key Features of the Partnership

• Responsible AI Practices: Ethical guidelines, data privacy, and continuous monitoring are central to the initiative.
• Value Realisation Office: A dedicated unit to quantify and maximize the impact of AI projects.
• Digital-First Transformation: Supports Qatar Airways’ ambition to become a tech-driven airline leader.

Use Cases in Aviation

• Predictive Maintenance: Reducing downtime and improving aircraft reliability.
• Flight Optimization: Smarter scheduling to reduce delays and fuel consumption.
• Customer Personalization: AI-driven services tailored to passenger preferences. 

Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, Group CEO of Qatar Airways: “AI Skyways represents a significant milestone in our journey to become leaders in AI-driven aviation.”

Julie Sweet, Chair and CEO of Accenture: “We’re embedding and scaling AI to create outstanding travel experiences and deliver greater value to the airline group”.

This partnership not only strengthens Qatar Airways’ position as a global aviation innovator but also sets a precedent for how AI can reshape the future of air travel.

In 2025, the aviation industry has seen a surge in strategic partnerships between airlines and technology firms, echoing the ambition behind Qatar Airways and Accenture’s AI Skyways initiative.

In April, Singapore Airlines teamed up with OpenAI to explore generative AI applications across customer experience, employee empowerment, and operational optimization—aiming to redefine the travel journey through intelligent automation. Similarly, Air New Zealand entered a five-year partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to overhaul its digital infrastructure, focusing on crew scheduling, predictive maintenance, and seamless tech-driven operations. In June, TCS inked seven-year agreement with Virgin Atlantic to modernize the airline's core technology systems using Al and cloud-based solutions

Lufthansa Group has deepened its collaboration with Infosys and Lufthansa Systems by establishing a Global Capability Center in India. This hub is dedicated to developing AI-first aviation IT solutions, including flight navigation and crew operations, with a strong emphasis on sustainability. Delta Air Lines, celebrating its centennial, unveiled a suite of internal AI-powered tools at CES 2025, including a next-gen customer service assistant and smart routing systems designed to reduce environmental impact.

On the frontier of cockpit automation, Merlin Labs and Honeywell have partnered to advance AI-driven flight systems capable of supporting reduced-crew operations. Their work is focused on safety, certification, and the future of autonomous aviation. Collectively, these collaborations signal a decisive industry shift toward AI-led transformation, with airlines prioritizing real-time decision-making, predictive analytics, and hyper-personalized passenger experiences.

Air India Express Launches ₹1279 Freedom Sale on 5 Million Seats to Mark 79 Years of Independence

As India celebrates 79 years of independence, Air India Express, the country's fastest-growing airline, unveils its grand Freedom Sale, offering 5 million seats across its expansive domestic and international network. With fares starting at just ₹1279 for domestic and ₹4279 for international flights, this sale is a celebration of freedom, connectivity, and accessibility of a new India.

The sale opens exclusively on www.airindiaexpress.com and the Air India Express mobile app on 10th August and will be available across all major booking channels from 11th to 15th August 2025. Travel under this offer is valid from 19th August 2025 to 31st March 2026, covering India’s most vibrant festive season including Onam, Durga Puja, Deepawali, Christmas, and more.

Air India Express continues to redefine affordable air travel with fare options tailored to individual preferences. The airline’s unique zero check-in baggage fare, Xpress Lite, is available on its website and offers exceptional value. Xpress Value fares that include standard check-in baggage allowances start at ₹1379 for domestic and ₹4479 for international flights.

For those seeking a premium experience, Xpress Biz, the airline’s business class equivalent, offers an industry-leading seat pitch of up to 58 inches and is now available on over 40 brand-new aircraft recently inducted as part of the airline’s rapid expansion. Loyalty members enjoy fab deals including 25% on Xpress Biz fares, 20% on additional baggage options, ‘Gourmair’ hot meals, seat selection, priority services, and upgrades. The airline also continues to offer special fares and advantages for students, senior citizens, armed forces personnel, and their dependents, ensuring inclusive access to affordable travel across India.

With a growing fleet of 116 aircraft and over 500 daily flights, Air India Express connects 38 domestic and 17 international destinations, playing a pivotal role in linking metros, non-metros, and emerging cities. The airline’s deep India connect is reflected not only in its expansive network but also in its commitment to celebrating the country’s cultural richness. Through its ‘Tales of India’ initiative, each aircraft tail features indigenous Indian textile patterns such as Bandhani, Ajrakh, Patola, Warli, Aipan, and Kalamkari, turning each aircraft into a tribute to India’s timeless traditions and vibrant modern spirit.

Air India Express stands as a smart enabler of freedom and mobility on the India - Middle East routes, which serve the largest Indian expatriate population. With comfortable seats, hot meals, and thoughtfully curated fare types, the airline continues to offer best-in-class value, and a travel experience infused with the unique warmth that is distinctly Indian.

Air India Becomes 1st Asian Airline to Integrate Apple AirTag Location Feature for Baggage Tracking

Air India, India’s leading global airline, has integrated Apple AirTag with its baggage-tracking system and mobile app, allowing customers using Apple iPhone, iPad or Mac devices* to securely track the location of their baggage.

Air India is the first airline in Asia to offer this integrated tracking service to guests.

Air India transports more than 100 million items of baggage annually, with more than 99.6% of items arriving together with the accompanying customer. For the small proportion that does not, due to issues with airport baggage systems, flight misconnection or other factors, this new AirTag integration will help locate items and expedite recovery.

Unload the stress from your baggage.

Air India now offers seamless digital support for your baggage, so you can travel with confidence and peace of mind. This makes us Asia’s first airline to integrate Apple AirTag with our baggage-tracking system, ensuring a worry-free journey.… pic.twitter.com/oEDbe1ccFY

— Air India (@airindia) April 3, 2025

The integration builds upon the easy-to-use baggage tracking feature Air India offers on its mobile app and website, which leverages real-time information available from airports to keep guests informed. For customers who have added their flight to the “My Trips” section of the app, baggage information becomes automatically available soon after the bags are checked-in, as well as on the “Track my Bags” tab of the website. Customers may also scan the barcode on their baggage receipts to initiate tracking.

“At Air India we continue to innovate and introduce cutting-edge digital capabilities as part of our customer-centric approach. As we transform into a world-class global airline, we are excited to offer our guests an innovative option to help locate their baggage in case it does not arrive at the destination on schedule. We are confident that our guests will find the baggage location capability offered using Apple’s AirTag and Share Item Location feature along with Air India’s real-time baggage-tracking system on its website and mobile app quite helpful,” said Dr Satya Ramaswamy, Chief Digital & Technology Officer, Air India.

How to use the AirTag feature:

• If the baggage, with the AirTag in it, does not arrive at the destination, the guest can report it at Air India’s Baggage Counter at the airport. Air India airport staff will assist in filing a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) for the baggage.
• The guest will then need to generate the ‘Share Item Location’ in the ‘Find My’ app on their Apple device and share the location link with Air India and associate it with the above-mentioned PIR via the Air India mobile app or website:
• Mobile App: The guest can visit the ‘Customer Support Portal’ on the app and choose ‘Baggage’ and then select ‘Lost and Found Check-in Baggage’ and provide the AirTag link there.
• Website: The guest can visit ‘Lost and Found Check-in Baggage’ in the Customer Support Portal page to provide the ‘Share Item Location’ link for their Apple AirTag, along with PIR number. Following this, guests will receive an acknowledgment email from Air India with a link to check baggage status.
• The shared AirTag link is then used by Air India’s authorised airport teams to locate the baggage if it is within airport premises and reunite the baggage with the guest at the earliest.
• For ensuring privacy and security, location sharing will automatically end as soon as a guest is reunited with their bag, or automatically expire after seven days. It can also be stopped by the guest at any time.

*To experience the new Share Item Location feature the guest should be using Apple devices running on iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, or macOS 15.2 or later.

Opportunities for Airline Startups in India !, Says Boeing India Prez, Citing Data

Salil Gupte, President of Boeing India, recently highlighted the potential for airline startups in India. He mentioned that India's growing economy and unique geography provide significant opportunities for new airlines to offer targeted services and products. Boeing has been actively supporting civil aviation customers in India and has placed nearly 600 aircraft orders from Indian airlines, including Air India, Akasa, and SpiceJet.

In an interview with ET Prime, Gupte talked about the India’s expanding aerospace presence, the competition with rival Airbus, and more. India's aviation market is one of the fastest-growing in the world, with a projected annual growth rate of around 9% over the next decade. The number of domestic air passengers in India has been steadily rising, reaching over 140 million in 2023.

"... look at one of the charts in our commercial market outlook (which sees Indian aviation to order around 2,550 commercial planes over the next two decades), you see only a small percentage of the overall market growth over the next 20 years. That small percentage alone would be the size of the largest airline in the US today. So, whenever somebody says that the Indian market is consolidated to two players and that there’s no room for startups, I hope that data proves that is absolutely untrue; that there will be opportunity for entrance into the Indian market over the next 10 to 20 years, that is very clear," said Salil Gupte.

In his role, Salil Gupte oversees Boeing's commercial, defense, and services businesses in the region. He leads a team of around 5,000 employees across various sites in India, including Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi.

Gupte has been instrumental in expanding Boeing's presence in India, supporting both Indian and global customers. Gupte has also been involved in significant defense projects, such as the delivery of C-17 cargo aircraft, P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, and Apache helicopters.

The Indian aviation market is highly competitive, with established players like IndiGo and Air India dominating the skies.

Gupte emphasized that the synergy between civil and defence aviation is extremely important in every single successful market. Citing markets of Japan, Singapore, Turkey and the likes,Gupte said that these countries leveraged the economies of scale of combining civil and defence aviation to grow. "They have not looked at them as separate individual markets, and that’s going to be very important for us.", Gupte said.

The Boeing India president also mentioned HAL and said that the government-owned aerospace and defense company is producing aerospace products like aircraft doors for the longest time for plane Makers.

Gupte also discussed the emergence of private sector players like Dynamatic, a Bengaluru based precision engineering company, Notably, Dynamatic recently announced that it is collaborating with Deutsche Aircraft to manufacture the rear fuselage of the D328eco, a 40-seat turboprop aircraft designed to enhance regional connectivity and sustainability. 

Airline Startups in India

There has been a surge in investment in aviation startups, with companies like Akasa Air and SpiceJet attracting significant funding. Further, the Indian government has been supportive of the aviation sector, with initiatives like the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme aimed at making air travel affordable and widespread.

Launched in 2022, Akasa Air is a low-cost carrier founded by former IndiGo executives. It aims to provide affordable and reliable air travel across India.

Although not a recent startup, SpiceJet has been a significant player in the Indian aviation market since its inception in 2005. It has successfully expanded its fleet and network over the years.

Airline startups in India face several challenges. Limited airport infrastructure and slot availability can restrict growth and operational efficiency. Regulatory hurdles is also big challenge as navigating the complex regulatory environment and obtaining necessary approvals can be time-consuming and challenging.

Despite these challenges, the potential for growth and innovation in the Indian aviation sector remains high.

Air India to Operate Daily Flights to Prayagraj to Meet Demand for Maha Kumbh 2025

• Delhi-Prayagraj flights from 25 January to 28 February 2025
• Convenient connections to Prayagraj via Delhi from other parts of India and rest of the world.

Air India today announced it will temporarily operate daily flights between Delhi and Prayagraj during the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, the world’s largest spiritual gathering.

To meet the high travel demand, Air India will operate the route from 25 January to 28 February 2025. With these flights, Air India brings the only full-service flying option between the two cities for customers, offering them the choice of premium cabins in addition to Economy Class.

With convenient daytime departures in both directions, the flights enable seamless connections via Delhi to customers travelling to/from various parts of India as well as North America, Europe, Australia, and several countries in Southeast Asia.

Bookings for the flights are being progressively opened on all channels, including Air India’s website, mobile app, and through travel agents.

Air India First in India to Introduce In-Flight WiFi Internet on Domestic Flights

• Starting 1 January 2025, in-flight Wi-Fi services available on all flights operated by Air India’s A350, B787-9 and select A321neo aircraft.
• Wi-Fi is offered on a complimentary basis for an introductory period.

Air India, India’s leading global airline, has announced it has rolled out Wi-Fi internet connectivity services on board domestic and international flights operated by Airbus A350, Boeing 787-9 and select Airbus A321neo aircraft.

This makes Air India the first to offer in-flight Wi-Fi internet connectivity on flights within India, enabling travellers – flying for leisure or business – to stay connected to the internet during their flights, and to enjoy browsing, accessing social media, catching up on work, or texting friends and family.

“Connectivity is now an integral part of modern travel. For some, it is about the convenience and comfort of real-time sharing, while for others, it is about greater productivity and efficiency. Whatever be one’s purpose, we are confident that our guests will appreciate having the option of connecting to the web and enjoy the new Air India experience on board these aircraft,” said Rajesh Dogra, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Air India.

Accessible on Wi-Fi-enabled devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones with iOS or Android operating systems, the in-flight Wi-Fi will also allow guests to connect multiple devices simultaneously when above 10,000 feet*.

The deployment of Wi-Fi on domestic routes follows an ongoing pilot programme on international services operated by the Airbus A350, select Airbus A321 neo and Boeing B787-9 aircraft serving international destinations including New York, London, Paris and Singapore. As with the domestic offer, Wi-Fi is complimentary for an introductory period. Air India will progressively roll out the service on other aircraft in its fleet over time.

How travellers can access Wi-Fi on board Air India flights:

• Enable Wi-Fi and go to Wi-Fi settings
• Select the ‘Air India Wi-Fi’ network
• Once redirected to the Air India portal on the default browser of the device, enter the required details such as PNR and last name
• Access complimentary internet service

* In-flight Wi-Fi connections depend on factors such as satellite connectivity, overall bandwidth usage, routes, and government restrictions.

Air India to Soon Introduce GenAI-driven Booking Feature

• Air India to introduce an innovative booking feature on its digital channels based on generative concept soon
• The new user interface driven by Generative AI capabilities earns global recognition by winning the prestigious ‘Red Dot’ 2024 award in the Design Concepts category.

Air India, India’s leading global airline, has won global recognition for its generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven booking feature which once rolled out will considerably enhance the reservation experience of its customers. Air India’s innovative concept won the Red Dot award – acknowledged worldwide as one of the most prestigious recognitions for design concepts by the global design community at Singapore recently.

The ‘Design Concepts’ category acknowledges exceptional concepts or prototypes that are at the developmental stage, as well as those ready for market. Established in 2005, the award identifies new design concepts and innovations leading to the launch of great products in future. The Air India concept is showcased now in the Red Dot Design Museum in Singapore.

New digital interaction paradigms can use text and visual interactions interchangeably to speed the user’s digital journey. Air India has applied this AI-generated insight to reimagine the classic ticket booking journey to largely enhance his reservation experience. This award-winning innovation will have several benefits when rolled out for customers for ticket-booking purposes:

Minimize user effort in making bookings: Instead of navigating many pages of screens with selections to be made and data to be entered, users can just specify their intent to travel using a simple request and complete the reservation instantly.

Reduced ticket-booking time: By speeding the guest’s journey through the booking flows, the time spent by them in making reservations is drastically reduced.

Seamless booking journey from research to travel: The new interaction paradigm will eventually power Air India’s end-to-end booking experience from researching about destinations to travel and post-travel support. The capability will be available for all Air India’s digital channels to help guests switch sessions across channels seamlessly.

“Being ‘customer-obsessed’ and ‘design-rich’ are two key operative principles we have adopted in Air India’s digital transformation journey. Air India is making considerable effort to create aesthetic and user-friendly designs to help our guests effectively use our digital channels, like the mobile app, website and the generative AI virtual agent AI.g. It is an honour to win the global Red Dot Award in the Design Concepts category for this innovation and we look forward to rolling it out in our digital channels soon,” said Dr Satya Ramaswamy, Chief Digital and Technology Officer, Air India.

Implementation of this new system across Air India’s mobile app, website and chatbot will be driven by the insights gained from the airline’s consumer-facing generative AI technologies based virtual agent AI.g, which remains the first and most advanced generative AI virtual agent in the global airline industry.

Air India Extended Its Wireless Inflight Entertainment Service to Narrowbody Fleet

Air India, India’s leading global airline, has extended its wireless inflight entertainment service, Vista Stream, to its narrowbody fleet, ensuring uninterrupted entertainment for guests.

This announcement comes in a day after Air India confirmed its purchase order of 100 more Airbus aircraft, comprising 10 widebody A350 and 90 narrowbody A320 Family aircraft, including A321neo.

Vista Stream, which debuted in August 2024, has already been introduced across Air India’s wide-body fleet (excluding the newly inducted Boeing 777 and Airbus 350 aircraft). With this update, Vista Stream will now be accessible on both widebody and narrowbody aircraft across international and domestic network.

Vista Stream enables guests to stream a wide variety of content directly to their personal electronic devices such as smart phones, tablets and laptops, offering a smooth and immersive entertainment experience.

“As we continue to transform Air India into a world-class airline, we are happy to introduce Vista Stream that enables our guests to access digital entertainment content on their personal devices during their flight. With the introduction of Vista Stream across our narrowbody fleet, uninterrupted entertainment (BYOD) service will be available throughout the entire domestic and international network,” said Rajesh Dogra, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Air India.

Guests can explore over 1600+ hours of premium curated content, from Bollywood blockbusters and Hollywood hits to captivating documentaries, classic tunes, and curated children’s program. Vista Stream also features a live map for real-time flight tracking and is compatible with iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS devices, ensuring easy access to entertainment for all throughout the flight.

Air India Adds 100 More Airbus Aircraft Including A321neo

Air India, India’s leading global airline, has confirmed it has placed an order to purchase 100 more Airbus aircraft, comprising 10 widebody A350 and 90 narrowbody A320 Family aircraft, including A321neo. These 100 new aircraft are in addition to the firm orders of 470 aircraft that Air India had placed with Airbus and Boeing last year.

The latest order takes the total number of aircraft that Air India ordered with Airbus in 2023 from 250 aircraft, comprising 40 A350 and 210 A320 Family aircraft, to 350.

Air India also announced it has selected Airbus’ Flight Hour Services-Component (FHS-C) to support the maintenance requirements of its growing A350 fleet. The new materials & maintenance contract will help Air India to optimise the reliability and performance of its A350 fleet, with comprehensive engineering services and integrated component services including on-site stock at Delhi provided by Airbus.

Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons and Air India, said, “With India’s passenger growth outpacing the rest of the world, its significantly improving infrastructure and an aspirational young population increasingly going global, we see a clear case for Air India to expand its future fleet beyond the firm orders of the 470 aircraft placed last year. These additional 100 Airbus aircraft will help to position Air India on the path to greater growth and contribute to our mission of building Air India into a world-class airline that connects India to every corner of the world.”

Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO, said, “Having personally witnessed the formidable growth of the Indian aviation sector in recent months, I am glad to see Air India renew its trust in Airbus with this additional order for both our A320 Family and A350 aircraft. Through this continued partnership, we are committed to supporting the success of Air India's "Vihaan.AI" transformation plan under Tata's vision and leadership.”

With the order for 100 additional aircraft, Air India currently has a total of 344 new aircraft incoming from Airbus, having received six A350s so far. Air India in 2023 had also placed orders for 220 widebody and narrowbody aircraft with Boeing, of which 185 aircraft remain to be delivered.

Air India is the first Indian airline to operate the Airbus A350, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. Delivering exceptional fuel-efficiency, passenger comfort, and long-range capabilities, the A350s now offer an all-new Air India flying experience to travellers flying non-stop from Delhi to London and New York.

The A320 Family fleet, powered by CFM LEAP 1-A engines, is a backbone of Air India’s domestic and short-haul operations, delivering world-class flying experiences to millions of the airline’s customers as well as remarkable operational efficiency and flight economics.

GE Aerospace, Microsoft and Accenture Develop Gen AI Powered Solution for Aviation Industry

GE Aerospace, in collaboration with Microsoft and Accenture, has developed a generative Al-powered solution aimed at revolutionizing the aviation industry. The first solution unveiled helps airlines and lessors rapidly access maintenance records in just minutes, a process that traditionally took days or even weeks.

GE Aerospace SaaS worked with Accenture to develop the strategic roadmap and generative AI-powered solution, which leverages Microsoft Azure and Azure OpenAI Service. The solution helps customers unlock critical asset information in minutes.

Airlines and lessors can quickly access critical maintenance records, improving efficiency and decision-making. The solution enables more informed decisions regarding aircraft asset tracking and manufacturing.

By automating and speeding up the process, it significantly boosts productivity and reduces manual labor.

Further, the generative AI-powered solution's compliance management helps in tracking and determining the compliance documentation status of aircraft fleets, reducing risk exposure.

This collaboration between GE Aerospace, Microsoft, and Accenture matters for several reasons. By leveraging generative AI to quickly access maintenance records, airlines and lessors can significantly reduce the time and resources spent on manual processes. This leads to substantial cost savings and more efficient operations.

Rapid access to maintenance data allows for quicker and more informed decisions regarding aircraft asset management. This can enhance the reliability and safety of the aircraft, as issues can be identified and addressed promptly.

The solution helps ensure that all necessary compliance documentation is readily available and up-to-date, reducing the risk of regulatory non-compliance and associated penalties.

This initiative showcases the potential of AI to transform the aviation industry. It sets a precedent for future innovations and encourages further investment in AI-driven solutions.

Airlines and lessors that adopt this technology can gain a competitive edge by improving their operational efficiency and reducing downtime. More efficient maintenance processes can contribute to better fuel efficiency and reduced environmental impact, aligning with the aviation industry's sustainability goals.

In essence, the Gen AI driven solution resulted from this collaboration not only optimizes current operations but also paves the way for a more advanced and sustainable future in aviation.