Saudi Arabian carrier Saudia Cargo has become the first cargo airline to deploy AI workers across its commercial operations, automating the handling of inbound requests for quotations through a new partnership with digital air freight platform cargo.one.

According to Aviation Business News, the AI-powered system analyses multiple variables including flight dates, alternative airports and service tiers before generating customer-specific quotes within seconds, around the clock. The system is capable of responding in multiple languages while maintaining conversational context from initial enquiry through to booking.

The partnership addresses one of the most time-intensive aspects of cargo sales, where large volumes of quotation requests received by email require research and pricing before a response can be returned to customers. By automating much of this process, Saudia Cargo aims to improve response times while enabling its commercial teams to concentrate on specialist shipments and higher-value customer interactions.

According to cargo.one, its AI workers typically reduce quote turnaround times by 68% while achieving an 89% first-time accuracy rate on AI-generated quotations.

Turhan Özen, chief commercial officer of Saudia Cargo, said the deployment equipped the airline's teams with reliable, industry-specific AI tools engineered to its exact standards and processes. "cargo.one's AI workers deliver a unique proposition of industry knowledge, data foundation, and state-of-the-art technology, and we look forward to sharpening our efficiency and customer experiences, and building our competitive muscle in the market," he said.

Moritz Claussen, founder and co-chief executive of cargo.one, said the partnership represented a new chapter in logistics. "Our customers, like Saudia Cargo, are reaping the benefits of cargo.one's investments in a logistics-specific, AI-native operating system over the past years, and stand to benefit from massive efficiency gains and improved execution," he said.

The deployment arrives as AI adoption accelerates across aviation commercial operations, with carriers increasingly applying machine learning and natural language processing to reduce manual workloads in pricing, scheduling and customer communications. Air cargo sales in particular has been identified as a high-potential area for automation given the volume and repetitive nature of quotation workflows across large commercial freight operations.

Saudia Cargo operates one of the Middle East's largest cargo networks, serving destinations across Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas from its King Abdulaziz International Airport hub in Jeddah.

Read the full partnership announcement and AI deployment details in the full story.