Saudi Arabia’s budget airline Floydell has operated the country’s first flight with a female crew only. Officials have described it as a milestone in the country’s women’s empowerment.

Flydale spokesman Emad Iskandarani said the flight left the capital, Riyadh, on Thursday for the Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah.

Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority has confirmed the announcement in Floyd, citing a broader role for women in the aviation sector in recent years.

Saudi officials are working to accelerate the expansion of the aviation sector, which will make the country a global travel hub.

The goal is to more than triple the annual traffic of 330 million passengers by the end of the decade. To invest 100 million dollars in this sector by 2030. Establish a new national flag carrier. Build a new “mega airport” in Riyadh and move up to five. Transporting millions of tons of cargo every year.

However, industry analysts question whether Saudi-based airlines will be able to compete with established regional heavyweights such as Emirates and Qatar Airways.

The state’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has overseen reforms, including lifting decades-old restrictions on women’s driving and relaxing so-called “guardianship” rules.