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Ink Innovation and Riyadh Air partner to define Delivery Management

06 May 2025

New partnership rethinks the airline experience for digital-first travellers

Riyadh Air, the digitally native national carrier of Saudi Arabia, is joining forces with travel technology provider Ink Innovation to deliver a next-generation air travel experience—one designed from the ground up for flexibility and convenience.

At the heart of this collaboration is a shared ambition: to set a new standard for what air travel can be in a world shaped by e-commerce, cloud computing, and travellers' expectations.

Ink is a key partner to Riyadh Air and continues to foster innovation at every step of the journey. As a like-minded tech-innovator, it is an ideal collaborator as we aim to provide an outstanding digital experience for our guests at their first travel touchpoint.”

Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air.

Moving beyond legacy systems

Airlines have long struggled with outdated infrastructure—systems built to move passengers from point A to B but not to delight, empower, or adapt. This partnership aims to change that.

Riyadh Air and Ink Innovation are implementing a full Delivery Management System aligned with the IATA Modern Airline Retailing (MAR) model. The platform lets you manage and interact with orders in real time, without outdated systems that rely on PNLs or PNRs. This puts travellers in charge of their journeys.

Passengers will be able to make changes on-the-go, add services mid-trip, and connect with third-party content in one streamlined experience. Instead of static, pre-booked trips, travel becomes modular, personal, and responsive.

Proven in the field

The system has already proven its readiness in real-world operations. Riyadh Air achieved its Air Operator Certificate using Ink’s platform, with proving flights across different continents. All flight handling, check-in, and load control functions were completed using Ink’s digital tools.

What we're trying to do with Ink…is offer a brilliant service to our customers. For me, our customers are the guests who travel on the aircraft, as well as the teams who work at the check-in desks and departure gates at airports. If they see our system as easy to use, straightforward, and highly reliable, they will be happy to work on their flights and offer even better service to our customers.”

Peter Bellew, Chief Operating Officer at Riyadh Air.

By leveraging mobile-based operations and cloud-native architecture, Riyadh Air teams can respond instantly to passenger or operational needs, whether a last-minute seat change or managing disrupted flights without the drama typical of legacy systems.

From airline to travel ecosystem

The broader ambition goes well beyond the airport terminal experience and check-in upgrade. Ink and Riyadh Air have built their system to connect travellers to hotels, airport transfers, local experiences, and multimodal transport like rail. It is designed to support upselling, cross-selling, and personalised service delivery, all aligned with the modern expectations of today’s traveller.

While many airlines continue to plan digital upgrades and launch Delivery systems in 2027 and beyond, Riyadh Air and Ink will fully deploy this system in 2025. This initiative delivers on the Modern Airline Retailing promise—not someday, but now.

We are developing a platform that aligns perfectly with the Modern Airline Retailing model. Our vision for travel is about empowering passengers much more than they are today. We believe that travellers will want the ability to change, enhance, or remove parts of their journey with ease. Right now, that's not possible.”

Shawn Richards, CEO and Co-Founder of Ink Innovation.

Ink provides a dynamic platform designed to evolve with passenger travel.

About Riyadh Air

Riyadh Air, owned by PIF, is a world-class airline. Launched in March 2023, the airline will be a digitally led, full-service airline that adopts the best global sustainability and safety practices across its advanced fleet of aircraft. Riyadh Air will equip its aircraft with the most advanced, state-of-the-art features with innovative, best-in-class cabin interiors and experiences, including next-generation digital in-flight entertainment systems and connectivity solutions. Riyadh Air will connect guests to over 100 destinations around the world by 2030 through offering an exceptional guest experience with an authentic, warm Saudi hospitality at its heart.

Website: www.riyadhair.com

About Ink Innovation (Ink)

Ink is a travel technology provider that develops cloud-hosted systems, self-service devices, and mobile/browser-based solutions to enhance airport and airline operations. Ink specialises in integrating legacy systems with modern technologies, and its goal is to improve the travel experience by connecting key touchpoints. Founded in 2011, based in Spain, Ink operates globally, partnering with clients such as Copenhagen Airport, JFK Terminal One, Jet2, TUIfly, Marabu, Lift, and Menzies Aviation.

Website: www.innovation.ink.