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I REGION I MIDDLE EAST I ADVERTORIAL “We will play a huge role in opening Saudi up to the world” Vincent Coste, Chief Commercial Officer for Riyadh Air, believes in the power of technology and the benefit of launching a new airline with a completely clean slate Riyadh Air is a brand new airline whose maiden flight is scheduled for 2025. As an integral part of Saudi 's tourism strategy Vision 2030, the airline aims to connect the destination to the world. ITB Berlin News spoke with Vincent Coste in an exclusive interview about the strategies and priorities of Riyadh Air. From Riyadh Air's perspective, how important is participating in ITB Berlin? What are some of your main goals at the show this year? We are celebrating our first anniversary this month, so we’re still new and introducing ourselves to people which is why networking at events like this is so beneficial. Our goal for ITB Berlin this year is to continue to spread the word of Riyadh Air, as we build towards our maiden flight in 2025. When selecting new routes for Riyadh Air, what factors are crucial to ensure not only the viability of the route but also its contribution to the airline's network connectivity? We aim to fly to 100 countries by 2030 so there are a lot of routes to consider. Geographically, Saudi is ideally placed to offer excellent connectivity to Africa, Asia and Europe. All routes will be selected to give our guests the best experience, whether they’re flying in or out of the Kingdom. As part of our broader objectives, Riyadh Air will act as a catalyst for Saudi’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy and many of the Saudi Vision 2030 goals. With our planned routes network, we will play a huge role in opening up the country to the world. Can you tell us more about the technologies Riyadh Air is implementing in order to create seamless experiences for passengers, from booking to boarding? Riyadh Air is committed to being at the forefront of technology, driving digital innovation at every touchpoint of our guest experience. We have partnered with industry leaders such as Accenture, Microsoft, Oracle, and Sabre to introduce pioneering technologies that will revolutionise air travel. From booking to arrival, our guests will enjoy a seamless journey enhanced by state-ofthe-art technology. How does Riyadh Air balance the use of technology with personalised service to ensure passengers feel valued and supported throughout their journey? One of the most important things for us as an airline is our guest experience, which is why we are committed to ensuring all of our guests have a memorable one. Being a digitally native airline means that we can better connect with our guests to ensure we achieve this goal. This is from the moment they start making a booking to the moment they land in their destination. Last year, we announced our partnership with IBM Consulting, who will be the lead systems integrator to support creating, building and orchestrating the technology foundation that can help Riyadh Air offer this exceptional service Hall 4.2 / Stand 202 A SUSTAINABLE AIRLINE Riyadh Air is committed to reducing its environmental impact and supporting Saudi's sustainability goals. Vincent Coste stated that this priority is reflected in the airline's choice of aircraft: "Our fleet will be composed of over 70 modern Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, a model manufactured with environmental impact considerations in mind, including reduced CO 2 emissions, optimising fuel efficiency and meeting noise regulations." Vincent Coste emphasised that it is Riyadh Air's goal to become "the leader in aviation sustainability" and said that the airline is committed to UNSDG principles, deploying SAF and other environmental fuels and Vision 2030 and SGI to increase the use of GEOGRAPHICALLY, SAUDI IS IDEALLY PLACED TO OFFER EXCELLENT CONNECTIVITY TO AFRICA, ASIA AND EUROPE. clean energy and address climate change. He argued that Riyadh air was strategically positioned to become the most sustainable airline because it is so new: "By virtue of having the newest fleet of any airline, we will also have the most efficient aircraft and our new Dreamliner 787 aircrafts will reduce CO 2 emissions by up to 30% with a 60% noise reduction" 34 ITB BERLIN NEWS • TUESDAY 5 TH MARCH 2024 news.itb.com
ADVERTORIAL I REGION I MIDDLE EAST I Saudi invites visitors to discover the delightfully unexpected at ITB Berlin 2024 Saudi's dynamic tourism offering is dispelling misconceptions and treating visitors to a range of diverse destinations, activities, and experiences Saudi is so much more than "just a desert". Thanks to its welcoming and open culture, abundant historical and heritage sites, pristine natural environment, and array of sports and entertainment events, it is one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in the world. CELEBRATING CULTURE Saudi offers a bustling cultural scene that boasts no fewer than seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the historical Al Balad quarter in Jeddah, Saudi’s coastal cosmopolitan hub. Home to a diverse calendar of cultural events, Jeddah's ancient coral stone houses are being restored while new galleries, restaurants, luxury shops, and cafes are emerging to create a buzzing cultural scene. Travellers can also embrace Saudi culture at the Ushaiger Heritage Village in the heart of the Najd region to get a glimpse into traditional Saudi life, or take in Al Ahsa, the world’s largest oasis with 2.5m palm trees. In addition, Saudi prides itself on its over 10,000 archeological sites. Diriyah is a 300-year-old site centred around At-Turaif, which is considered to be the birthplace of the Saudi state. The ancient city of AlUla is an an open-air museum offering history and natural heritage. Hegra’s tombs house evidence of human life that dates beyond the 1st millennium BC. DIVERSE LANDSCAPES AND BOUNDLESS ACTIVITIES Stunning natural landscapes span mountains, deserts, and the sea, off ering visitors diverse experiences such as hiking, diving, and desert safaris, and an excellent escape from European winters. With a 1,800km-long coastline, Saudi is home to rolling desert dunes, cool and lush green highlands, as well as the pristine waters of the Red Sea. Saudi is one of the region’s emerging cultural, sports, and entertainment hubs with worldclass events throughout the year, including the F1 circuit in Jeddah, the Diriyah E-Prix, the Red Sea Film Festival, the MDL Beast Festival, the Riyadh Season, the Saudi Cup, the Dakar Rally, and the Gamers8 gaming and esports event. WELCOMING EVERYONE Saudi is promoting itself as a warm and welcoming destination for everyone, including female travelers. With the Vision 2030 plan driving transformation, the destination has a dynamic society that enables all of its citizens to achieve their aspirations, and the empowerment of women is a major part of that. Saudi is also a very safe place to visit with a low crime rate, and was recently ranked by the World Economic Forum as the 33rd safest country in the world. With connections to over 20 regional and international airports and an eVisa programme that includes 63 countries, it is now easier than ever to visit Saudi Hall 4.2 / Stands 200, 202 & 205 “GO BEYOND WHAT YOU THINK” CAMPAIGN WITH LIONEL MESSI Earlier this year, Saudi’s national tourism brand, "Saudi Welcome To Arabia," kicked off a global marketing campaign featuring football legend and Saudi Tourism Ambassador, Lionel Messi. The “Go Beyond What You Think” campaign is the Saudi Tourism Authority’s farthest reaching campaign to date. Launching across key target markets in Europe, India, and China, the campaign is anchored on consumer insights and celebrates trailblazing Saudi women including the Women’s National football team, motorsport athlete Dania Akeel, DJ Cosmicat, and Rayyanah Barnawi, the first Saudi woman in space. “Go Beyond What You Think” invites audiences to experience the incredible and vibrant cultural transformation taking place across Saudi and builds on the sentiment of the UN Tourism, "Tourism Opens Minds" Initiative that launched on World Tourism Day in Riyadh in September 2023. The campaign also includes an interactive digital component, where previous visitors to Saudi and Saudi residents are encouraged to share positive experiences on social media using the hashtag #ShareYourSaudi ITB BERLIN NEWS • TUESDAY 5 TH MARCH 2024 35
