flynas starts work on Riyadh training center for pilots and cabin crew

flynas has begun construction on a training center in Riyadh that will cost more than SAR 200 million and open in 2028. The facility is designed to train up to 700 people a day and support the airline’s expansion, Saudi talent development and aviation localization goals.

Why it matters: - The project gives flynas a larger in-house pipeline for training pilots and cabin crew as the airline grows. - The center is also meant to support Saudi Arabia’s push to localize specialized aviation jobs and build national talent. - flynas expects the facility to reduce use of outside training providers and lower training costs over time.

What happened: - flynas announced the start of construction on an advanced training center in Riyadh. - The airline said the project will require an estimated investment of more than SAR 200 million. - The center is being developed with Airbus, CAE and Restart. - The facility is scheduled to open in 2028.

The details: - The center will cover about 13,000 square meters in Riyadh’s Al Rimal district. - The site is less than 10 minutes from King Khalid International Airport. - The facility is designed to handle about 700 trainees a day. - The first phase will include three advanced flight simulators. - The center is planned to accommodate eight simulators. - Future expansion could raise simulator capacity to 14. - The facility will also include equipment for practical safety and service training. - Bander Almohanna, flynas CEO and managing director, said the center reflects the airline’s commitment to developing national talent in specialized aviation roles. - Almohanna said training infrastructure is a key part of keeping pace with the Kingdom’s aviation growth and preparing Saudi professionals for future roles.

Between the lines: - flynas is pairing fleet and network growth with internal training capacity, which can help the airline scale faster without depending as much on third-party providers. - The project also fits the broader Saudi Vision 2030 and National Aviation Strategy push to build local capabilities and expand the aviation sector. - The emphasis on simulators suggests flynas wants the new center to support both operational readiness and long-term cost control.

What's next: - Construction will continue ahead of the 2028 opening. - flynas plans to equip the center in phases, starting with three simulators and expanding capacity over time. - The airline will likely use the center to train more Saudi pilots and cabin crew as its operations expand. - More information is available in the airline’s announcement.