Minister of Transport and Logistics Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser confirmed that various agreements signed by the Saudi Airlines Group with major international companies specialized in the aviation industry in the world, during their participation in the Dubai Airshow 2021, will have a positive impact on the development of fleet services, enhancing its operational and competitive efficiency. Al-Jasser, who is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Airlines Group, also said the deals would help the group move toward achieving the objectives of the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services. The minister said that choosing Honeywell International for the Saudi Aerospace Engineering and Industry Company to be its global maintenance center in the Middle East and North Africa, as the first accredited center outside Europe and America, is the culmination of global confidence in the Saudi aviation industry's leading capabilities. The center will be a regional platform for all operators from inside and outside the region, he said, and adding that the signing of a joint agreement by the Saudi Aerospace Engineering and Industry Company with Leonardo International for maintenance services for the growing fleet of AW139 aircraft, in which the number of aircraft of this type is expected to be 60 helicopters by the end of 2022 AD, and will contribute to supporting the tourism and investment sector and air ambulance services. He stated that, under the specific agreement, the company will begin to rehabilitate "Leonardo" service center to be approved for basic maintenance of the AW139 model, which is the best-selling in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the region, and the agreement also includes the addition of other future models from the factory such as the AW169 and AW609 TiltRotor, and the agreement also includes the development of the infrastructure and localization of maintenance of helicopters and their spare parts, with the development and training of manpower in the field of specialized vertical transport. Al-Jasser indicated that all these multiple agreements with major aviation and air transport factories will support localization programs and local content and expand partnership with the global and local private sector, to consolidate the Kingdom's position as a global logistics center that achieves the objectives of the transport and logistics system. — SPA
