New Partnership: CellPoint Digital Empowers Riyadh Air’s Digital-First Approach

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Riyadh Air partners with CellPoint Digital to enhance its digital strategy with advanced payment technology, preparing for a groundbreaking launch in 2025.

CellPoint Digital, a frontrunner in airline payment solutions and a global leader in Payment Orchestration, has unveiled a new collaboration with Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s latest national airline. This partnership will see CellPoint Digital provide cutting-edge payment technology to support Riyadh Air’s digital-first strategy as it gears up for its commercial debut in 2025.

The partnership equips Riyadh Air with CellPoint Digital’s Payment Orchestration platform, allowing the airline to handle local and international transactions seamlessly. Riyadh Air aims to revolutionize Saudi Arabia’s commercial aviation market, currently led by established giants like Emirates and Etihad. To achieve this, Riyadh Air is focusing on an innovative payment strategy that emphasizes optimized transaction routing, smooth cross-border payments, and a diverse range of payment options for both international and domestic travelers.

The Next Chapter in Saudi Arabian Air Travel

Riyadh Air, based at King Khalid International Airport, is poised to begin commercial operations by mid-2025. This $30 billion start-up is a key element of Saudi Arabia’s strategy to become a global aviation hub. With a vision to connect the nation to 100 regional and international destinations by 2030, Riyadh Air leverages the kingdom’s strategic position at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe. The airline’s ambitious plans include creating over 200,000 jobs. Chief Operating Officer Peter Bellew has announced that Riyadh Air will recruit approximately 300 pilots and cabin crew members by spring 2025 to support its operational launch.

“While legacy airlines can be held back by legacy technology, a next-generation airline like Riyadh Air can start from a more advanced position by using tailored technology that’s built for now, not 20 years ago,” said Kristian Gjerding, CEO at CellPoint Digital. “With our Payment Orchestration solution developed specifically for the unique challenges faced by global airlines, Riyadh Air can offer travellers their preferred payment options while gaining more control over its cash flow and costs.”

CellPoint Digital’s Payment Orchestration platform employs intelligent routing, considering factors such as pricing, processing and acceptance currency, and the geographical location of the processor to enhance transaction success rates. This approach minimizes the number of declined transactions, reducing booking abandonment and boosting revenue for Riyadh Air.

Adam Boukadida, Riyadh Air’s CFO, added: ‘As a disruptor airline prioritising our digital capabilities, we need a payments partner with first-hand, in-depth knowledge of air travel. CellPoint Digital’s Payment Orchestration platform enables us to offer travellers a fully digital experience onboard and a smoother booking experience. Not only that, but CellPoint Digital has been supporting us with its expertise and extensive consultancy services throughout the sales process and our quest to secure international partnerships.’