The air travel market has made a relatively fast journey since the first flight carried out by the Wright Brothers, with the achievements of air travel during the First and Second World Wars. This journey led to the rapid development of the jet engine, and generations of commercial aircraft that made air travel an integral part of our lives. And after flying and landing safely and in record time were the main criteria for successful airlines, competition today takes on other dimensions that are no longer less important. Modern technologies have revolutionized and radically changed the economies of air travel, taking into account that air travel no longer means flying only, nor those The plane that carries increasing numbers of passengers, but rather a complete experience from the first moments of booking with technical applications until the moment of exit from the airport halls at the arrival stations.
The impact of this trip has become very clear about people’s choices for their vacations and their planning for tourist trips. The introduction of technology changes the customer experience by making their journey more comfortable and enjoyable, but this requires transformations and a complete reformulation of the infrastructure in order to take advantage of modern digital capabilities that have become one of the most important requirements for travel at airports. Modern, in order to contribute to tracking many cases related to rapidly contagious diseases, or those wanted in security and terrorism cases, or otherwise, which contributes to avoiding delays for others and achieving maximum comfort for them. Therefore, modern airports are moving towards enhancing biometrics, such as facial recognition, retina scanning technologies, and conducting digital verification processes in all check-in procedures for the flight, until boarding the plane, and enabling passengers to follow their bags and baggage claim, and all this through artificial intelligence. and data technologies.
All international airlines faced a challenge with the spread of the Corona virus, as travel stopped completely, due to precautionary measures, and many questioned the ability of this industry to quickly return to pre-pandemic, but estimates of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) indicate that the annual growth In the industry, it increased by 67 percent in January 2023, measured by distance (passenger kilometers), and this remarkable growth comes with the recovery of global demand to 84.2 percent from pre-pandemic levels, and the capacity measured by available seats increased by 35.5 percent year on year. The Air Transport Association expects annual growth to accelerate to 97.4 percent from pre-pandemic levels.
All these fundamental transformations, the data presented, and the important strategic issues in the world of aviation draw new features for this sector in the future, and it is difficult for any existing airlines or airports to race against time and become ready in all these issues without incurring an exorbitant cost, and for this reason the fortunes of new airports and airlines will be Open to win larger shares of the global market.
In this context, one can read what Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Public Investment Fund, announced regarding the Public Investment Fund’s establishment of “Riyadh Airlines”, the new national air carrier, to contribute to the development of this sector and the strengthening of the Kingdom’s strategic position. Which connects three of the most important continents of the world: Asia, Africa, and Europe, and work to raise the competitiveness of national companies in accordance with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. This decision at this very appropriate time comes after the launch of the general plan for King Salman International Airport, in November (November). ) the past, to be a bridge linking the East and the West, which establishes the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics center, and one of the largest airports in the world, and it will extend over an area of approximately 57 square kilometers.
This giant global airport needs an increase in passenger travel distance standards, the capacity measured by available seats, and the maximum use of artificial intelligence technologies in aviation. That is why the announcement of the establishment of “Riyadh Aviation” came at the right time as a national air carrier, and a new force that enhances the sectors of transport, logistics, trade and tourism, and takes the capital as a main center to manage its operational operations, and a starting point for its flights, by owning a fleet of advanced aircraft, and aims to apply the best practices of sustainability. Globally accredited safety in the field of aviation, in addition to providing the latest digital technologies for leadership in this field, and to enrich the experience of travelers through flights that reach more than 100 global destinations by 2030, and it will provide exceptional levels of integrated services, mixed with the authentic Saudi hospitality character, which enhances opportunities Developing the tourism sector in the Kingdom, and supporting efforts to diversify the national economy, with the contribution of “Riyadh Airlines” to the growth of the non-oil gross domestic product of the Kingdom, amounting to 75 billion riyals, and the creation of more than 200,000 direct and indirect job opportunities.
In order to ensure the highest standards of success and compatibility between the major strategic projects in the Kingdom, the announcement came that the company will be wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund, and its board of directors will be chaired by the Governor of the Public Investment Fund. The presence of a group of local and international experts.