Saudi Arabia made a remarkable presence on the first day of the Dubai Airshow, which reflects the readiness of the aviation sector in the Kingdom to shift into a new phase in line with the major economic transformations.
The Saudi authorities concluded several deals, agreements, and MoUs on the sidelines of the airshow.
They included establishing centers and partnerships in the maintenance sector and exploring strategic partnerships in training.
CEO of Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) Ibrahim al-Koshy announced that the company plans to place a wide-body aircraft order next year to fuel rapid international expansion plans that will see it and a subsidiary flying to 200 mostly foreign destinations by 2030.
The airline expects to carry 85 million passengers a year by the end of the decade, up from 35 million before the pandemic, he said at the Dubai Airshow.
Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries (SAEI) also signed a deal with the French Thales Group, which specializes in aviation systems, to launch a partnership through advanced aircraft maintenance services.
Flyadeal, Saudi Arabia’s low-cost carrier and a subsidiary of Saudia, signed a seven-year TrueChoice Overhaul agreement to cover engines that power its 11 A320-200 aircraft fleet.
The Prince Sultan Academy of Aviation Sciences signed an agreement with Airbus to train cabin crews and maintenance and management work training.
During the exhibition, Honeywell announced that it had selected Saudi Aerospace Engineering Industries as its certified maintenance center in the Middle East.
