Boeing and Saudi Arabian Airlines Holding have signed a broad collaboration agreement allowing the companies to pursue possible partnership opportunities in the areas of defence and commercial aviation that will benefit customers and generate new business in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“We are pleased to sign this collaboration agreement with Boeing to support the transformation process Saudia is going through, and hope both Saudia and Boeing will get the anticipated commercial, economic and social benefits out of such collaboration,” said Khalid Almolhem, director general, Saudi Arabian Airlines.

Boeing and Saudia will explore areas of cooperation in pilot and aircraft maintenance training, rotorcraft support, management and leadership training and manufacturing focused on the expansion of local presence and aerospace skill development in country.

“This agreement builds on the well-established relationship between Boeing and Saudia and will enable us to enter into some exciting future business ventures,” said Jim O’Neill, president, global services and support, Boeing Defence, Space & Security.

“We look forward to collaborating with Saudia and expanding our training and service offerings for our customers.”

The partnership between Saudia and Boeing began nearly 70 years ago with a gift of a DC-3 Dakota to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Boeing has a track record of working closely with its civil and defence partners in Saudi Arabia to bring innovative new technologies and cutting edge knowledge to the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabian Airlines started out in 1945 with the single twin-engine DC-3, which was given to King Abdul Aziz as a gift by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

This was followed with the purchase of two more DC-3s, which formed the nucleus of what was to become one of the world’s largest airlines.

Today Saudi Arabian Airlines operates more than 500 domestic and international flights a day with a fleet of 139 aircraft, including the latest and most advanced wide-bodied jets presently available: B747-400s, B777-200s, Airbus A320,321, 330, MD-11s, ERJ.