Riyadh Air Purchases Pair of CAE A321neo Simulators

Riyadh Air has agreed to buy a pair of CAE’s 7000XR full-flight simulators to train pilots to operate its Airbus A321neo aircraft. The new Saudi Arabian carrier signed the contract at the Dubai Airshow on Tuesday.

The devices will be installed at Riyadh Air’s training facility in Saudi Arabia. In 2023, the airline signed an agreement with CAE covering training center operations for its Boeing 787-9 widebody airliners with two full-flight simulators and a flight training device.

In addition to delivering the A321neo simulators, CAE will also handle maintenance for the equipment and keep its qualification status up to date. Riyadh Air launched commercial services on October 26 with daily flights from the Saudi capital to London Heathrow Airport, and it will soon start operating to Dubai.

“We highly value our strong and collaborative partnership with CAE, whose delivery and ongoing support of the full-flight simulators we have procured is integral to Riyadh Air’s operational readiness,” said Martin Eiba, acting COO of Riyadh Air. “These state-of-the-art CAE simulators will form a core pillar of our pilot training ecosystem, ensuring our pilots are trained to the highest levels of proficiency. This investment directly supports our shared commitment to safety, innovation, and operational excellence.”