Low-cost airline Flynas plans to recruit Saudi women as co-pilots

Saudi airline Flynas plans to soon start recruiting Saudi women to work as co-pilots, the airline’s CEO was quoted as saying.

The low-cost carrier said the move will make it the first airline in kingdom to hire women in senior positions, Bloomberg reported.

It aims to enable Saudi women to have a greater role in supporting the kingdom’s economy, CEO Bandar Almohanna was quoted as saying.

In late August, it was reported that Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) had issued five licences to female pilots set to work for Saudi Arabian Airlines.

The announcement comes after a flight school in the kingdom said it was opening its doors to women after a decades long ban on female driving was lifted on June 24.

Read: Saudi aviation academy to train first women pilots

The licences were awarded under the GACA’s efforts to empower women, which have also seen a “large number” of female workers employed there, local daily Saudi Gazette reported.

Read more: Saudi aviation regulator issues licences to five female pilots

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 reform strategy is looking to increase the participation of women in the workforce and provide them with greater opportunities.

The end to the driving ban in particular is hoped to provide a major boost to women seeking employment opportunities.

Read: Saudi women expect new job opportunities after lifting of driving ban