SAUDIA Honors its Renowned Pilots

SAUDIA, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has celebrated one of its longest serving pilots in a special ceremony attended by His Excellency Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of SAUDIA Group. 

Captain Abdulhameed Abdulrahman Malki was among the first commercial pilots to join the airline. The ceremony looked back at  SAUDIA’s rich history, highlighting the airline’s beginnings and how it has evolved over the years.

Engr. Ahmed Alwassiah, delegated SAUDIA CEO said: “Honouring Captain Malki is a tribute to the generation of pioneers who have played an enormous role in the development of Saudi’s aviation industry. Captain Malki’s long career is a testament of his commitment to SAUDIA, as he was highly regarded by state royals and officials during his tenure.”

Engr. Alwassiah confirmed that SAUDIA is keen to nationalize various specialized jobs in the field of aviation, highlighting that three years ago the airline managed to completely nationalize the First Officer position, with plans to completely nationalize all pilot positions in the future. It is gratifying to see SAUDIA’s pioneers meet the next generation, it symbolizes the legacy of SAUDIA’s success as the airline continues to grow and reach new heights.” said Engr. Alwassiah.

Captain Malki expressed his gratitude for SAUDIA’s devotion to growing the capabilities of its staff over the years, and celebrating their success following their retirement. He also highlighted the current generation’s contribution to SAUDIA and the role that they play in the airline’s success. 

One of his previous colleagues praised the extraordinary performance of the previous generation, despite the limited resources that was available to them. He noted that it is the responsibility of the current generation to continue the operational successes of the previous generations, as the present day offers more advanced technology and resources. The ceremony, which was attended by Captain Malki’s family and friends, included visual highlights of the pilot’s career that honored and celebrated his journey.