MAKKAH – The Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) has allowed young women with pilot licenses to work for it as pilots, Makkah daily reported. "I am happy and optimistic. I hope I will be able soon to work for Saudia and fly an airplane," said Cpt. Handi Al-Hindi, the first Saudi woman to become a commercial airplane pilot. Al-Hindi applied for a pilot position at Saudia few months ago but her application was rejected. Now that the Saudia announced that they will send 30 young women abroad to be trained as pilots, Al-Hindi is going to apply again and try her luck. Cpt. Yasmeen Al-Maimani, the second Saudi young woman to get a license to fly a commercial airplane, commended the Saudia's decision to send 30 young woman abroad, noting that many Saudi young women have a great interest in the field and want to be pilots. She called upon all Saudi airliners to give her and Al-Hindi a chance to work as pilots because they are both licensed by the General Authority of Civil Aviation. "I have received several job offers from Gulf airlines companies. All I want is to get a job as a pilot in a Saudi airlines company," she said. Saudia spokesman Abdulrahman Al-Tayeb stressed that Saudia treats job applicants the same, calling upon female licensed pilots to reapply and pass all requirements in order to get a job as a pilot.
