Riyadh Air employs AI to optimize eco-friendly flight paths in the battle against climate change

Saudi Arabia's latest airline, Riyadh Air, plans to use artificial intelligence to identify the most eco-friendly flight routes, revealed their COO, Peter Bellew, at the UN World Tourism Day 2023 in Riyadh. Launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in March, the airline has invested in 72 Boeing 787s, which Bellew praises as extremely carbon-efficient.

Bellew elaborated, "Every facet of our operations will be scrutinized for carbon emissions reduction. This includes enhancing fuel efficiency and leveraging AI for the best flight paths." As a fresh entrant without outdated systems, Riyadh Air is poised to prioritize sustainability, including using IT to monitor the carbon footprint of their crew and exploring green solutions at airports like electric and hydrogen-powered machinery.

Bellew shared his vision for the airline, "By 2030, we aim to run on clean hydrogen energy. We also look at holistic sustainability, from onboard waste management to our infrastructure."
Being a modern airline in this tech era offers the chance to utilize the newest in AI and data analytics, Bellew emphasized.

In the same event, Ahmed Daoud, from the Royal Commission for AlUla, spoke about AlUla's strategy to involve startups in sustainable growth projects. Daoud believes this not only bolsters the environment but also boosts local economies. He mentioned Saudi Arabia's support for a $1 trillion investment in the global startup ecosystem.

Daoud's vision integrates local and global startups, "Our goal is to forge symbiotic ties. That will position us as a budding tourist hub by adopting innovations from the broader entrepreneurial world."
The World Tourism Day event, themed "Tourism, and Green Investments", promoted global alliances for a sustainable tourism future. It featured discussions on the UNWTO's three pillars: people, planet, and prosperity. Attendees gained insights into the transformative potential of tourism.
The event's chair will transition from Saudi Arabia to Georgia next year.