View Full Version : Expats still at Saudia?
I'm longtime retired from Saudia but still enjoy the news from the Kingdom, of which there's not much lately. Are there still captains and f/o's living in Saudia City, what's the expat pilot situation, are there any? Thanks everyone
Sky Hooker
7th May 2022, 10:18
Expats are still present in Saudi Arabia. Since the last wave of expats left Saudia City for Riyadh Base a few years ago, I suppose there are only a handful left.
Most expat captains live in Riyadh, and there are somewhere between 100 and 130 of them.
Salahuddin Ahmad
7th May 2022, 20:30
Me too, was with Saudia and Nas combined close to 30 years, I can say without hesitation that those Years in Saudi Arabis were the best years of my life, I believe only Saudi pilots are stationed in jeddah; all the rest of flight crews live in Riyadh. at least thats what I know
Thanks gentlemen, me too it was a great time, I was from 1990/2009 and retired off the md-11, is that still running? Anyway it was a great gig for me. Not so sure about Riyadh but had a lotta fun in Saudia City.
What is the current situation in Saudia?
Are they planning expansion on the short/medium haul?
Whats the outlook for hiring skippers in the Airbus fleet?
thanks
Sky Hooker
10th May 2022, 12:02
As there are more job openings in Flyadeal and Flynas, there are now no opportunities for expats.
Yesterday, Transportation Minister Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser announced a new national airline at the Future Aviation forum. This is a sign that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will grow a lot in the next ten years.
Saudia will likely expand primarily from its hub in Jeddah, while the new flag carrier will expand from Riyadh.
With the relaxation of E visas for visitors, tourists, and Muslim umrah traffic, Saudi aviation's growth potential is enormous.
I hope this answers your question.
Giuff
10th May 2022, 12:07
Expats for now is not happening as more job openings are in Flyadeal and Flynas.
With a new National airline announced By Transport minister Mr Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser at the Future Aviation forum yesterday, a lot of expansion going to happen in KSA this decade.
Saudia will probably grow mostly out of their own Hub Jeddah and the New flag carrier will be expanding out of Riyadh.
Saudi aviation has been a Sleeping Giant and potential for growth is unlimited with relaxing E visas for visitors, tourist and muslim umraa traffic.
Hope it answers the question.
Thanks a lot.
I will definitely monitor the situation.
Best regards.
Flaperon777
10th May 2022, 12:52
A maximum of 30-40 expats left in Saudia. Most on the 320 and all in Riyadh. The 777 has maybe a handful of old Egyptians and the 787 too maybe 5-6 older captains who have nowhere else to go. Conditions were despicable when I last heard pre Covid. During Covid, as with most ME carriers Saudia let go of its expats in a ‘phased’ manner therby burning all bridges for them to come back. Many have long overdue pending court cases against salaries not paid or underpaid. Those that are left behind are the ones who had no where else to go whom no other airline would hire.
By mid 2022 there won’t be a single expat pilot on the wide bodies is what I hear. The 320 may still drag the expat until end 2022.
Sky Hooker
10th May 2022, 19:43
Flaperon I don't know where you are getting your 30-40 expat info from. As we speak, we have around 120-130 expat captains still in Saudia across all fleets. I'm not sure who is feeding you this information about expats being phased out of the wide-body 2022. In point of fact, all expats are still here and contracts are getting renewed on a regular basis. After all, it is PPRuNe, and I appreciate your sticking to the facts.
Have a great day!
Romasik
10th May 2022, 19:55
A maximum of 30-40 expats left in Saudia. Most on the 320 and all in Riyadh. The 777 has maybe a handful of old Egyptians and the 787 too maybe 5-6 older captains who have nowhere else to go. Conditions were despicable when I last heard pre Covid. During Covid, as with most ME carriers Saudia let go of its expats in a ‘phased’ manner therby burning all bridges for them to come back. Many have long overdue pending court cases against salaries not paid or underpaid. Those that are left behind are the ones who had no where else to go whom no other airline would hire.
By mid 2022 there won’t be a single expat pilot on the wide bodies is what I hear. The 320 may still drag the expat until end 2022.
Hehe... Mostly garbage. Far from real situation. Looks like something personal between you and Saudia.
Flaperon777
11th May 2022, 10:19
Hehe... Mostly garbage. Far from real situation. Looks like something personal between you and Saudia.
Simply what I heard. Was never with the company Saudi but have many friends and colleagues there.
Maybe my numbers are off. But not by much I think.
777JockeyIN
14th May 2022, 04:45
New Airline will be interesting. Though its hard for them to compete with ME3. But definitely Pilots with get the best T&C.
I think that there are TWO expat pilots left in Saudia City :):) Place has certainly changed over the years. I doubt that anyone who worked here up until 2009 would recognise the changes in this country, the increasing number of female voices on VHF either as controllers or pilots is interesting to watch. In fact FlyAdeal operated a 100% female crewed flight last month, it wasn’t widely announced.
Aviation in KSA is definitely changing, we are now watching the start of Saudi Royal Aviation which is taking the main royal aircraft from the Saudia Royal Fleet. Saudi Airways starting and apparently hiring post holders for a flag carrier based in Riyadh. SAUDIA Private aviation, not actually sure what they are doing but they still exist with one Hawker. Cargo sold their B747-8F aircraft pre pandemic but are operating with leased aircraft and B777F.
MD-11F, sold and sent to USA, MD-11 VIP left to rot somewhere in Jeddah airport.
Biggest downside which will probably lead to the demise of expats is the loss of free housing which was replaced by a housing allowance, and the removal of credit time for salary. This has turned what was a great paying gig into an average deal or worse.
poina hope that you are enjoying retirement.
poina
15th May 2022, 17:13
Thanks Mutt, yeah I'm glad I retired early but like you say free housing and credit time was what made it possible. Saudia City was the best part.
A maximum of 30-40 expats left in Saudia. Most on the 320 and all in Riyadh. The 777 has maybe a handful of old Egyptians and the 787 too maybe 5-6 older captains who have nowhere else to go. Conditions were despicable when I last heard pre Covid. During Covid, as with most ME carriers Saudia let go of its expats in a ‘phased’ manner therby burning all bridges for them to come back. Many have long overdue pending court cases against salaries not paid or underpaid. Those that are left behind are the ones who had no where else to go whom no other airline would hire.
By mid 2022 there won’t be a single expat pilot on the wide bodies is what I hear. The 320 may still drag the expat until end 2022.
Really don’t know where you are getting your information from, but it’s wrong, 111 expats remain with only 39 of those on the A320. Mid of 2022 is basically next month, totally impossible for them to replace 72 wide body captains by then.
oceancrosser69
29th Aug 2023, 10:24
Just saw the information on the Saudia website that they are hiring B777 Capt. Any idea about T&Cs there?
Any info highly appreciated. Thanks
kungfu panda
29th Aug 2023, 16:38
Just saw the information on the Saudia website that they are hiring B777 Capt. Any idea about T&Cs there?
Any info highly appreciated. Thanks
They are not hiring expat B777 Captains.
They are not hiring expat B777 Captains.
and yet these advertisements are on the web, but which side of the house are they recruiting for and how realistic are they about actually recruiting anyone.
kungfu panda
10th Sep 2023, 15:18
and yet these advertisements are on the web, but which side of the house are they recruiting for and how realistic are they about actually recruiting anyone.
They've been advertising on social media for years but they haven't taken expats since 2017. I don't know what they're up to.
Look at the aircraft types and you will get your answer, but this isn’t for foreigners, don’t think its even for locals :):)
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/952x359/img_5564_9c35eef11f09d9d675a26085e80c44806bd6ca67.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/838x384/img_5565_d4ed731c0c5516c5ea053601692a4ee4ead51778.jpeg
Rebranded today to the previous logo and colour scheme.
xs4intx
24th Mar 2024, 00:00
I saw a recruitment post for 737 captain, can anyone tell me how is the work environment there? What allowances do we get? How about bringing my family to live there?
Thanks
Would be rather interesting as they don’t really operate 737’s, and as a foreigner you aren’t getting near the BBJ’s.
xs4intx
24th Mar 2024, 09:38
Would be rather interesting as they don’t really operate 737’s, and as a foreigner you aren’t getting near the BBJ’s.
I saw it in their official website tho… so i guess they are not giving chances for foreigners to upgrade?
What foreigners ? They don't have any foreign first officers to upgrade.
Hotclown
26th Mar 2024, 09:02
yes they do have
yes they do have
That’s news to me, where are you getting that idea from ? And have you informed the airlines management who have previously announced that they have 100% localised the position of first officer.
kungfu panda
29th Mar 2024, 07:25
yes they do have
It's not true. All expat First Officers left in summer 2020.
I believe some expat Captains are now being brought in but I suspect that it's a deal between Saudia and Egyptair, not sure though.