flynas announced the commencement of construction of an advanced training center in Riyadh, with an estimated investment exceeding SAR200 million (US$ 53.3 million), in collaboration with leading global and local companies, including Airbus, CAE, and Restart, aiming to enhance its training capabilities and develop national talent in the aviation sector.
Scheduled to open in 2028, the center will occupy approximately 13,000 square meters in Riyadh’s Al-Rimal district, less than 10 minutes from King Khalid International Airport, with a daily capacity of around 700 trainees, providing an integrated and advanced training environment that meets the requirements of flynas’ rapidly expanding operations and supports the development of pilots’ and cabin crew members’ skills in accordance with the highest international standards.
In its first phase, the project will be equipped with three advanced flight simulators. The facility is also designed to accommodate eight simulators, with a future expansion capacity of up to 14, alongside comprehensive equipment for practical safety and service training, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
CEO and Managing Director of flynas Bander Almohanna said: “The training center reaffirms flynas’ commitment to investing in the development of national talent for specialized roles in the aviation sector, in parallel with our ambitious growth and expansion strategy, as well as our contribution to achieving national targets through qualified Saudi talent.”
“Investing in training infrastructure and the continuous development of national talent is a key pillar in keeping pace with the rapid growth of the Kingdom’s aviation sector and enhancing the readiness of Saudi professionals to take on the specialized roles required by the sector’s future,” he added.
The Center will enable flynas to strengthen its in-house training capabilities, enhance the efficiency and quality of its training operations, reduce reliance on external training facilities and providers, lower the cost of training pilots and cabin crew, and generate sustainable financial savings for the company, enhancing operational readiness and supporting its long-term growth and expansion plans.
The project builds on flynas’ strategy of investing in advanced technologies and developing human capital, while enhancing the readiness of its workforce to keep pace with the continued expansion of its fleet, destination network, and operations, as well as contributing to the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Aviation Strategy, particularly in developing the aviation sector, localizing specialized jobs, and building national capabilities.
flynas is a market-leading low-cost carrier in MENA for the short and medium haul market. The company connects 72 destinations (16 of which are domestic and 56 international) as of 9M 2024G. Additionally, flynas offers access to 128 destinations through codeshare and interline arrangements with international full-service carriers.
Flynas is the first airline listed on the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul). It operates 156 routes to more than 80 domestic and international destinations in 38 countries with more than 2,000 weekly flights. It has flown 110 million passengers since its launch in 2007, aiming to reach 165 domestic and international destinations within its growth and expansion plan, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030.
flynas operates an all-Airbus fleet of 61 aircraft from its four bases in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah. (SPA; flynas; Photo © Airbus)
