Historic Graduation Ceremony in Jeddah
Saudia Group, Saudi Arabia's national flag carrier, recently celebrated its largest graduation ceremony to date in Jeddah, honoring over 1,000 Saudi men and women who successfully completed specialized aviation training programs. The landmark event, held on Saturday, February 15, 2026, signifies a major step in the Kingdom's efforts to bolster its national aviation workforce.
The graduates are set to join various entities within the Saudia Group, including Saudia Airlines, Saudia Academy, Saudia Technic, Saudi Ground Services (SGS), SAL Logistics Services, flyadeal, and CATRION. This integration aims to strengthen the operational capabilities across the diverse aviation ecosystem. The ceremony was attended by Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, and Eng. Ibrahim Al Omar, Director General of Saudia Group.
Ambitious Job Creation and Fleet Expansion
Alongside the graduation, Saudia Group announced ambitious plans for significant expansion, projecting the creation of more than 12,000 new jobs across the aviation sector. This initiative is directly linked to the planned delivery of 185 new aircraft to the group's fleet in the coming years.
Eng. Ibrahim Al Omar stated that 'The introduction of our new fleet of 185 aircraft over the next few years is expected to generate more than 12,000 jobs across the aviation ecosystem.' The expansion also includes the forthcoming full operation of Saudia Technic's maintenance hangar at King Abdulaziz International Airport, which is anticipated to create thousands of additional direct jobs in aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO).
Alignment with Saudi Vision 2030
The record graduation and expansion plans are integral to Saudi Arabia's broader National Aviation Strategy and align with the objectives of Vision 2030. This national blueprint aims to diversify the Kingdom's economy and establish it as a leading global aviation hub.
Key aspects of this alignment include:
- Localization of Talent: Saudia Group has made substantial progress in localizing key aviation roles, exceeding targeted performance indicators. Local content within the group has increased from 19% in 2019 to 29% currently, with a future target of 45%.
- Strategic Partnerships: Agreements with global aircraft manufacturers include clauses for knowledge transfer and the qualification of Saudi talent within the Kingdom.
- Infrastructure Development: The expansion supports the national goal of tripling annual passenger traffic to 330 million, expanding connectivity to over 250 destinations, and boosting air cargo capacity to 4.5 million tons by 2030.
The new aircraft orders, part of the 185-aircraft expansion, include a historic deal for 105 Airbus aircraft (54 A321neo for Saudia and 12 A320neo and 39 A321neo for flyadeal) and an order for 49 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. These modern, fuel-efficient aircraft are expected to enhance connectivity and passenger experience, contributing to Saudi Arabia's ambition to become a major international travel and logistics hub.
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