Saudia Group celebrated the largest graduation in its history, honoring more than 1,000 Saudi men and women who completed aviation training programs, while unveiling plans to generate over 12,000 jobs through the delivery of 185 new aircraft in the coming years.
The ceremony, held in Jeddah, marked a significant milestone in the group’s workforce development strategy and its broader contribution to Saudi Arabia’s National Aviation Strategy.
The graduates will join various subsidiaries across the aviation ecosystem, including Saudia Airlines, Saudia Academy, Saudia Technic, Saudi Ground Services (SGS), SAL Logistics Services, flyadeal and CATRION.
Eng. Ibrahim Al Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, said the graduation signals a new phase in the group’s efforts to localize the air transport industry. He noted that substantial progress has been achieved in localizing key aviation roles, surpassing targeted performance indicators by between 43 percent and 230 percent across core positions.
He added that the incoming fleet of 185 aircraft, scheduled for delivery over the next few years, is expected to create more than 12,000 jobs throughout the aviation sector.
In parallel, the expansion of Saudia Technic’s maintenance hangar at King Abdulaziz International Airport will soon become fully operational, generating thousands of additional direct jobs in aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul services.
Al Omar further highlighted that Saudi Arabia has adopted a structured approach in agreements with major global manufacturers, incorporating clauses that ensure knowledge transfer and the qualification of Saudi professionals within the Kingdom. This approach supports higher local content and sustainable capability development.
According to him, local content within the group has increased from 19 percent in 2019 to 29 percent currently, with a target of reaching 45 percent in the coming years.
He also emphasized that Saudia Academy has evolved into a comprehensive training center offering multiple aviation specialties, supported by advanced facilities, qualified instructors and internationally aligned curricula. The aim is to position the academy as a global reference center capable of attracting trainees from around the world.
Al Omar underscored the Kingdom’s longstanding commitment to human capital development, recalling that since its establishment more than 80 years ago, Saudi Arabia has prioritized building national talent. He noted that the first batch of students was sent abroad to study aviation sciences during the reign of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, laying the foundation for today’s aviation workforce.
The ceremony was led 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, who described the graduation as aligned with Saudi Vision 2030. He said the initiative supports the Vision’s objective of providing quality employment opportunities for citizens and strengthening national institutions.
Al-Jasser noted that the aviation sector and the broader transport and logistics system are undergoing rapid transformation under the Kingdom’s leadership, reflected in improved global rankings, increased investments and the launch of major projects and initiatives.
He expressed confidence that the new graduates would play a key role in advancing the institution’s transformation journey toward profitability and operational self-reliance.