The Helicopter Company CEO Yahya Al-Ghoraibi believes that his company’s commercial worth is embedded in its ability to save the time of clients looking for an efficient mode of transportation.
Ghoraibi looks forward to helicopter transport becoming popular in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, on the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow, Ghoraibi revealed that the company plans to put a fleet of 50 helicopters of all sizes to work.
He explained that the company plans to provide air taxi services in the Kingdom, pointing out that among the company's plans is to also commercially operate routes out of Saudi Arabia starting to neighboring Gulf countries, but stressed that this comes at a second stage.
The Helicopter Company (THC), Saudi Arabia’s first and only private helicopter company, aims to provide a faster travel option for residents, pilgrims and visitors to the Kingdom, especially those who want to see hard-to-reach sites that have been opened up for tourism.
THC, fully owned by the Public Investment Fund, has already registered over 140 flights for customers.
Also in its services menu are private transport, emergency medical evacuations and tourism transfers. The company also works with hospitals and emergency services to provide support in areas in the Kingdom which are hard to reach by land, as well as providing flights for Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.
The company also works with hospitals and emergency services to provide support in areas in the Kingdom which are hard to reach by land, as well as providing flights for Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.
Speaking about challenges facing the sector today, Al-Ghoraibi said: “The challenges are to keep up with the changes that are happening in Saudi Arabia for the better.”
“We currently have 13 highly qualified pilots, 12 of whom are Saudi nationals, and 65 employees, 60 of whom are Saudi nationals,” Al-Ghoraibi added on the level of localization within the company.