Deal aims to provide travelers with benefits such as card acceptance, alternative payment options, and enhanced features Partnership highlights Riyadh Air’s commitment to improving the passenger experience JEDDAH: Passengers on Riyadh Air will benefit from a more seamless digital transaction experience as the soon-to-be-operational Saudi carrier has partnered with noon payments. The collaboration between the Public Investment Fund-owned companies will integrate the transaction gateway into the airline’s system, boosting processing capabilities and ensuring secure, efficient transactions, according to a press release. The agreement aims to provide travelers with benefits such as card acceptance, alternative payment options, and enhanced features. The partnership highlights Riyadh Air’s commitment to improving the passenger experience. The move comes amid the Saudi government’s push for a cashless society by encouraging consumers to switch to cards for financial transactions, with data from the Saudi Central Bank showing digital wallet usage surged from 315,000 in 2018 to 17 million in 2022, covering over half of the population. Adam Boukadida, chief financial officer at Riyadh Air, said: “We are dedicated and focused on providing a seamless and elevated travel experience from booking flights to landing. Our attention to detail and laser focus on digitally enhancing our guests’ travel experience will only be strengthened by this new partnership.” He added: “Our agreements with noon payments allow us to tap into their expertise in digital solutions, which will optimize our operational efficiency while offering guests a familiar and trusted payment method.” Boukadida noted that this would be another step in changing how global travelers book and pay for flights, while also demonstrating their commitment to fostering local innovation and contributing to Saudi Arabia"s broader economic goals. This partnership reflects Riyadh Air’s ongoing commitment to innovation since its launch in March 2023. The airline has worked with global partners like Lufthansa Systems, IBM Consulting, and Accenture, as well as Swiss AS, CAE, and Microsoft to improve its services and operations, aiming to set new standards in aviation sustainability and passenger experience. “At noon payments, we’re all about using innovation and technology to create standout experiences. Partnering with Riyadh Air lets us take this commitment to the next level, bringing world-class payments service, security, and care to every guest,” said Dhruv Paul, general counsel, at noon. This deal comes on the backdrop of Riyadh Air’s agreement with CellPoint Digital in June to integrate advanced payment technology. Based at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the airline is set to support its digital-first strategy and prepare for commercial operations scheduled to start in 2025. Under the agreement, Riyadh Air will employ CellPoint Digital’s Payment Orchestration platform to manage local and cross-border transactions efficiently.