News

His Excellency Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, met today with Mr. Amara Sakor, Ambassador of the Republic of Liberia to the Kingdom, at GACA’s headquarters in Riyadh. The meeting reviewed topics of mutual interest and explored ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the field of air transport.

As part of the Kingdom’s efforts to enhance international cooperation in civil aviation, Mr. Mohammed bin Saad Al-Fawzan, Executive Vice President for Aviation Security and Chairman of the Middle East Aviation Security Cooperative Program, paid an official visit to the Syrian Arab Republic, where he met with Mr. Omar Al-Hosari, President of the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority. The meeting reviewed ways to reinforce aviation security measures between the Kingdom and Syria, focusing on developing human capabilities and expanding areas of cooperation in civil aviation to serve the interests of both countries. The visit also witnessed the launch of the activities of the Middle East Aviation Security Cooperative Program, one of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) initiatives, hosted by the Kingdom with the support and sponsorship of the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The program aims to advance aviation security capabilities across the region. It is worth noting that the Kingdom has recently supported Syria’s accession to the program, reaffirming its commitment to promoting regional integration and cooperation in the civil aviation sector.

His Excellency Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, met today with His Excellency Dr. Mukhtar Khidr Abdo, Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the Kingdom, at GACA’s headquarters in Riyadh. The meeting reviewed topics of mutual interest and explored ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the field of air transport.

General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej yesterday signed an air transport services agreement between the governments of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The signing ceremony was held at GACA's headquarters in Riyadh, with Pakistani Secretary of Defense Muhammad Ali representing his government.  The agreement aims to bolster cooperation in air transport services based on mutual benefit and respect, in accordance with applicable regulations, laws, and procedures. It seeks to update the regulatory framework governing air traffic between the two countries, contribute to the objectives of the Aviation Program aimed at building international partnerships, and enhance Saudi Arabia’s global civil aviation relations.  By seeking to modernize the regulatory framework between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in line with developments in the civil aviation sector, the agreement ensures regular, safe, and sound air operations.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announced the granting of an economic license to FedEx, allowing it to operate as a foreign air carrier within the Kingdom. The license enables the company to conduct scheduled air cargo transport activities in accordance with the applicable local and international regulations in the Kingdom.  This came during the inauguration ceremony of FedEx’s main hub in Riyadh, attended by Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and Chairman of GACA’s Board of Directors Saleh Al-Jasser, GACA President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, Acting President of the Transport General Authority (TGA) Dr. Rumaih Al-Rumaih, along with CEOs and officials representing companies operating in the aviation sector.  Granting this license represents a significant step in supporting the objectives of the Aviation Program, which stems from the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, and in advancing the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in the transport and logistics sector.  It aims to strengthen the Kingdom’s position in air cargo, with the company planning to operate 24 cargo flights per month through King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.  The company has approved its operational plan to establish Riyadh as its regional hub, directly connecting the Americas, Europe, and Asia through King Khalid International Airport. This will position the Kingdom as a global logistics platform for FedEx operations in the region.  Starting September 2, 2025, FedEx will begin operating direct flights to and from Riyadh, followed by the launch of transit-based air and ground transport operations to other GCC countries and the wider region. This will help facilitate cross-border trade and support national efforts to achieve the Saudi Vision 2030 objectives of making the Kingdom a leading global logistics hub.  The Aviation Program aims to support Saudi Vision 2030 by making the Kingdom’s aviation sector the leading sector in the Middle East, reaching 330 million passengers, increasing air cargo capacity to 4.5 million tons, and enhancing air connectivity to reach 250 destinations to and from Saudi airports by 2030.      

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) today released its monthly report on the on-time performance of Saudi airports and national carriers for July 2025. The report measures departures and arrivals within 15 minutes of their scheduled time, providing passengers with a clear view of the commitment of airlines and airports to flight schedules. The aim is to enhance service quality, raise performance levels, and improve the passenger experience across the Kingdom’s airports.   The July 2025 report highlighted top-performing airports, with King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jazan, NEOM Bay Airport, and King Saud bin Abdulaziz Airport in Al-Baha ranking highest. Airports were divided into five categories: in the first category, for international airports handling more than 15 million passengers annually, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh secured first place with an 84 percent on-time performance rate. In the second category, for international airports with 5 to 15 million passengers annually, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam came first with 84 percent. In the third category, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jazan achieved first place with 91 percent. NEOM Bay Airport led the fourth category, for international airports serving fewer than 2 million passengers annually, with 98 percent. In the fifth category, for domestic airports, King Saud bin Abdulaziz Airport in Al-Baha ranked first with 98 percent.   At the airline level, Saudia recorded an on-time performance rate of 89 percent for arrivals and 87 percent for departures. flynas achieved 84 percent for arrivals and 86 percent for departures, while flyadeal posted 87 percent for arrivals and 90 percent for departures.   The report also shed light on top-performing domestic and international routes. Domestically, the Tabuk–Riyadh and Jazan–Riyadh routes achieved 96 percent on-time performance. Internationally, the Jeddah–Doha route ranked first with 95 percent.   These efforts come as part of the objectives of the National Aviation Strategy, which aims to strengthen the Kingdom’s position as a leading regional hub in the aviation sector by enhancing operational standards, boosting efficiency, and improving the quality of services provided to passengers.