Amadeus to power Riyadh Air distribution
Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier, has signed a global distribution agreement with Amadeus, providing access to one of the world’s largest travel seller networks and supporting the airline’s ambitious Vision 2030 growth plans. By joining the Amadeus Travel Platform, Riyadh Air will connect with agencies in over 190 countries, expanding its global reach and helping position Saudi Arabia as a leading aviation and tourism hub. Gen Z leads shift to instant payments Real-time transactions are projected to represent 27 per cent of all global payments by 2028, according to TerraPay, with digital wallets leading the transformation. Koert Grasveld, VP of Payments at TerraPay, highlights Gen Z’s pivotal role, with 79 per cent using digital wallets and driving a shift toward mobile-first, instant payment experiences. Social media also influences travel behaviour, with 40 per cent booking trips based on TikTok content and 49 per cent using Instagram for inspiration. Despite rapid adoption, 35 per cent of hotels and many activity providers have yet to integrate digital wallet solutions, creating barriers for seamless travel payments. Small property owners also face high fees, slow transactions and limited access to advanced tools. Rotana rolls out operations platform Rotana, one of the region’s leading hotel management companies, has rolled out a next-generation operational platform powered by Connected Safety Net (CSN) across its hotel portfolio. The platform replaces manual, paper-based systems with a mobile-enabled, no-code solution that manages food safety, reception standards, maintenance, audits and compliance within a unified digital ecosystem. The system enhances operational efficiency, enabling real-time reporting, automated workflows and instant safety tracking, allowing teams to focus on delivering seamless guest experiences. Eddy Tannous, Rotana’s Chief Operating Officer, said the transformation makes operations “smarter, faster and more connected.” AirBooking partners with TKCONNECT AirBooking, the IATA-certified NDC distribution platform, has announced its certification as an official Turkish Airlines TKCONNECT partner, granting travel agents, corporates and customers exclusive access to Turkish Airlines content and pricing unavailable via traditional Global Distribution Systems (GDS). Through AirBooking’s unified platform, agents can now access Turkish Airlines’ NDC content alongside comprehensive GDS inventory, benefiting from seamless ancillary management for seats, baggage and upgrades within single transactions. The platform also eliminates the $24 GDS distribution surcharge, offers real-time dynamic pricing and provides tailored corporate pricing structures with enhanced reporting and compliance tools. Kanoo Travel partners with QuadLabs for eo Kanoo Travel, a leading travel management company in the Middle East, has partnered with QuadLabs, a global travel technology provider, to launch its new Corporate Travel Solution “eo”, powered by Travog, QuadLabs’ advanced corporate travel platform. The partnership aims to transform corporate travel management by leveraging Travog’s automation, policy enforcement and reporting capabilities to deliver seamless, efficient and cost-effective solutions for businesses across the region. The eo Corporate Platform streamlines travel booking, ensures compliance with company policies and enhances the overall traveller experience.