In the picture (left to right): Riyadh Air Cabin Crew, James Cahill (CAE), Nick Leontidis (CAE), Alexandre Prévost (CAE), Michel Azar-Hmouda (CAE), Martin Eiba (Riyadh Air), Nabil Azar (CAE), Christian Montpetit (CAE), Ian Bradley (Riyadh Air), Riyadh Air Cabin Crew
CAE today announced that it has signed an agreement with Riyadh Air for the purchase of two Airbus A321neo 7000XR full-flight simulators (FFS). CAE will provide comprehensive operations, maintenance, and qualification services for Riyadh Air’s simulators. The airline’s latest purchase expands on the existing Training Centre Operations (TCOPs) agreement signed in 2023 for the operation of two Boeing 787 FFS. The new devices will be deployed at Riyadh Air’s training facility in Saudi Arabia.
“We are proud to support Riyadh Air with advanced simulation technology and operational expertise to ensure they receive world-class pilot training while ramping up operations,” said Alexandre Prévost, CAE’s President, Civil Aviation. “The two new A321neo FFS join two Boeing 787-9 FFS which were purchased in 2023 from CAE. This expanded partnership reflects our shared vision for safety, innovation, and excellence in pilot training.”
This collaboration positions CAE as Riyadh Air’s trusted partner for all pilot training needs. Beyond delivering advanced simulators, CAE will oversee maintenance and qualifications to ensure a reliable, high-quality training infrastructure and seamless operations.
“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 Chief Operating Officer 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.”
This latest agreement builds on Riyadh Air’s existing partnership with CAE, which began in 2023 with the acquisition of two Boeing 787-9 full-flight simulators and a flight training device (FTD), along with training centre operations support. Riyadh Air commenced operations on October 26, 2025, with daily flights to London Heathrow from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, and flights to Dubai will be added soon.
At CAE, we exist to make the world safer. We deliver cutting-edge training, simulation, and critical operations solutions to prepare aviation professionals and defence forces for the moments that matter. Every day, we empower pilots, cabin crew, maintenance technicians, airlines, business aviation operators, and defence and security personnel to perform at their best and when the stakes are the highest. Around the globe, we’re everywhere customers need us to be with approximately 13,000 employees at around 240 sites and training locations in over 40 countries. For nearly 80 years, CAE has been at the forefront of innovation, consistently seeking to set the standard by delivering excellence in high-fidelity flight simulators and training solutions, while embedding sustainability at the heart of everything we do. By harnessing technology and enhancing human performance, we strive to be the trusted partner in advancing safety and mission readiness—today and tomorrow.
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Riyadh Air is a new national airline established in March 2023. With headquarters in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh Air is the cutting edge of digital aviation. It will adopt the best international sustainability and safety practices to deliver an exceptional travel experience by bringing together the brightest minds from across the aviation industry, Saudi Arabia and the rest of the world to make this vision a reality.
