At World Aviation Festival, Vincent Coste, Chief Commercial Officer, Riyadh Air spoke about the airline’s imminent launch, confirming it is on track for a first flight in 2025.
Providing insight into the digitally-led carrier, Coste talked through the opportunities, challenges, and key differentiators that make the airline a forward-thinking innovator.
Explaining what sets Riyadh Air apart from others, Coste said:
“Most of the industry today is working with systems that are decades old, which were very disruptive at the time and have evolved over time but are now limited in their ability to position the guest at the center of the experience. For example, in Saudi Arabia where the average age of the population is 29 years old, you want to have a Spotify, Amazon, or Netflix-like experience. This is the new way we operate, even for people my age.”
Speaking on the airline’s retailing experience specifically, Coste showed why Riyadh Air has an advantage:
“The industry needs technologies that are able to deliver the same experiences as these modern platforms, and current technologies are limited to that extent. Riyadh Air takes advantage of its startup status, no legacy systems, to start fresh and to deliver this truly retailing experience.”
Questions asked include:
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- Commercial operations are scheduled for mid-2025, are you on track to meet this and what have been the greatest challenges so far?
- Riyadh Air will be Saudi Arabia’s second flag carrier, what are the key features that set you apart from other airlines?
- Is the industry where it needs to be in terms of its retailing journey and what are the benefits of approaching this as a fresh carrier?
At Aviation Festival Asia, Tony Douglas, CEO, Riyadh AIr will be speaking on revolutionisng the travel ecosystem, partnerships, and untapped markets. The airline’s Vice President Pricing and Revenue Management, Shihaj Kutty will also be speaking on a panel exploring how airlines can ensure their revenue management strategies are proactive, experience-informed and efficient. Book your ticket now to be a part of the discussion!
For more from onsite at World Aviation Festival 2024 see:
- How SAS became Europe’s most punctual airline
- Forbes, the Godfathers of AI, and multi-billion dollar airport modernisation
- Keynote Interview with Jozsef Varadi, CEO of Wizz Air
