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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.  

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) is participating in the second edition of the Saudi Drone Exhibition (SADEX 2025), a three-day event held at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Convention Center, under the theme “Drones and the Future of Integrated Transformation.”  The exhibition brings together government officials, industry leaders, experts, and investors, alongside major local and international companies specializing in smart transportation, drones, robotics, and artificial intelligence.  SADEX 2025 serves as a platform to showcase the latest technologies and applications across various sectors, including transportation, delivery, agriculture, oil and gas, environmental management, and surveillance. Over 100 entities from both within the Kingdom and abroad will participate.  The organization of this exhibition is part of GACA’s ongoing efforts to position the Kingdom as a global logistics hub, promote sustainability, and enhance infrastructure for emerging technologies in air transport. These efforts align with rapid local and international transformations in the sector and represent key components of the National Aviation Strategy.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) yesterday issued its monthly report on the performance of the Kingdom's domestic and international airports for July 2025, based on 11 key performance indicators. The report aligns with GACA's strategic objectives to enhance services for passengers, improve service quality, and elevate the overall passenger experience at the Kingdom's airports.  The report ranked King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, Abha International Airport, Arar International Airport, and Al-Qurayyat Airport among the top-performing airports.  Airports were categorized into five groups. In the first category, for international airports with more than 15 million annual passengers, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh ranked first with an 82% compliance rate, surpassing King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, which came second with an 82% compliance rate. King Khalid International Airport outperformed King Abdulaziz International Airport in terms of meeting the standards.  In the second category, for international airports with five to 15 million annual passengers, Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah secured first place with 91% compliance rate, while King Fahd International Airport in Dammam recorded 82% compliance.  In the third category, for international airports with two to five million annual passengers, Abha International Airport ranked first with a 100% compliance rate.  In the fourth category, for international airports with fewer than two million annual passengers, Arar International Airport ranked first, achieving 100% compliance rate and outperforming other airports in terms of average waiting times for arrival and departure flights.  In the fifth category, for domestic airports, Al-Qurayyat Airport secured first place with 100% compliance rate, surpassing all competing airports in terms of average waiting times for both arrival and departure flights.  GACA's airport performance evaluation relies on 11 crucial criteria, including passenger waiting times during travel procedures, time spent at baggage claim, immigration and customs areas, and standards related to passengers with disabilities, in accordance with best global practices.

Today, His Excellency Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), received His Excellency Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, Ambassador of the Republic of India to the Kingdom, at GACA’s headquarters in Riyadh. The meeting reviewed issues of mutual interest and explored ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the field of air transport.