Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new digitally-native airline, has launched the first in a fleet of electric buses for employee transport, as part of its commitment to sustainable aviation practices. These efforts reflect the carrier’s firm commitment to adopt all 17 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development goals, having signed up to the UN Global Compact earlier in 2024.
“Every effort we make to champion sustainable practices counts in our collective fight against climate change,” said Tony Douglas, CEO, Riyadh Air. “Sustainability is embedded in our DNA and we will reflect this across all Riyadh Air’s operations, from managing fuel efficiency in the sky to reducing carbon emissions on the ground. Investing in electric coaches is just one early initiative we can introduce to offset our environmental footprint as we demonstrate we will be a leader in helping achieve the aviation industry’s global net-zero agenda.”
The electric buses are being launched in partnership with National Transportation Solutions Company (NTSC) – a division of the Petromin Corporation – and TAM-Europe, a provider of digital solutions to enable sustainable public transport. The fleet of electric buses will facilitate the convenient and eco-friendly daily commute of Riyadh Air staff and aircrew across the Saudi capital as part of an effort to lower the airline’s environmental footprint.
“We are proud to have this partnership for sustainable mobility with Riyadh Air and contribute to their efforts to reach sustainability goals,” said Kalyana Sivagnanam, Group CEO, Petromin Corporation. “This is a remarkable airline with environmental responsibility embedded in their DNA.”
By investing in electric vehicles and carpooling services, Riyadh Air aims to promote fuel efficiency and reduce the number of individual cars on the capital’s roads.
This initiative follows an agreement for Riyadh Air to adopt GE Aerospace’s suite of flight operations software solutions: Safety Insight, Fuel Insight, and FlightPulse. This strategic partnership, announced in July, will equip the airline with data-driven analytics to optimise fuel consumption, enhance safety measures, and reinforce its sustainability initiatives.
Riyadh Air will launch commercial operations in mid-2025 at King Khalid International Airport. An integral part of Saudi Arabia’s mission to create a global aviation hub, the digitally-native startup airline aims to connect the country to 100 regional and international destinations by 2030, leveraging the Kingdom’s strategic location between Asia, Africa and Europe.
Hear more from Riyadh Air at FTE Global – the “CES of Aviation” – taking place in Los Angeles on 28-30 October 2024. Anton Vidgen, Vice President Guest Experience, Riyadh Air, is participating in a session on ‘Progressive strategies to enhance customer experiences and business performance by airlines’, with a presentation titled ‘How will the new airline for Riyadh rewrite the rules for customer experiences?’
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