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President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Abdulaziz Al-Duailej and Cuba’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Miguel Porto Parga signed an agreement on air transport services between the governments of Saudi Arabia and Cuba today at GACA’s headquarters in Riyadh. The signing took place as part of the official visit of the Cuban prime minister to attend the ninth edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh.  The agreement aims to enhance cooperation in the field of air transport services and to promote bilateral relations based on mutual benefit and respect, in accordance with the laws and regulations of both countries. It also seeks to establish regulatory frameworks for air transport.  This step contributes to achieving the objectives of the aviation program, which focuses on building international partnerships and strengthening global relations in civil aviation. It will also enable national carriers to expand their operational networks, enhance the Kingdom’s air connectivity to reach 250 destinations, and help transport 330 million passengers annually by 2030, aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) yesterday issued its index classifying air transport service providers and airports, based on the passenger complaints submitted to the authority during September 2025.  GACA reported a total of 2,399 passenger complaints filed against air carriers. The performance rankings, measured by complaints per 100,000 passengers, showed flyadeal leading the field with the fewest complaints—38 per 100,000—while maintaining a 98% timely resolution rate.  flynas followed in second place with 43 complaints per 100,000, notably achieving a 100% on-time resolution rate. Saudia Airlines came in third, registering 54 complaints per 100,000 passengers and holding a 90% timely resolution rate.  Overall, the most frequent complaint categories in September involved flights, followed by baggage services, and then ticketing.  King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh led its category in the GACA index, recording the lowest number of complaints. In the category for international airports serving over six million passengers annually, the airport registered 15 complaints per 100,000 passengers and achieved a 100% on-time resolution rate.  Abha International Airport recorded the lowest number of complaints filed with GACA in the index category for international airports with an annual passenger count of less than six million, registering four complaints per 100,000 passengers and achieving an on-time complaint resolution rate of 100%.  In the category for domestic airports, Sharurah Airport had the lowest number of complaints filed with GACA, with one complaint per 100,000 passengers and an on-time complaint resolution rate of 100%.  GACA stated that the purpose of issuing this monthly index is to provide passengers with information on the performance of service providers and airports in resolving customer issues, enabling travelers to make informed choices. This also enhances transparency, reinforces GACA's credibility, and fosters fair competition for continuous service improvement.  GACA has provided airport operators with a guidelines booklet for handling passenger complaints, specifying service level agreements. The authority also conducts workshops to train employees of national airlines and ground handling companies on adhering to customer rights regulations.  Passengers and visitors can submit feedback 24/7 through multiple communication channels, including the unified call center (1929), the WhatsApp service (0115253333), social media accounts, email, and the official website.

His Excellency Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), received today His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Farah Nouh, Minister of Air Transport and Civil Aviation of the Federal Republic of Somalia, at GACA’s headquarters in Riyadh. During the meeting, both parties reviewed topics of mutual interest and discussed avenues to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fields of air transport and civil aviation industry development.

His Excellency Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), chaired today the second meeting of the Committee for the Activation of the Saudi Civil Aviation Environmental Sustainability Program (CAESP), held at GACA’s headquarters in Riyadh. The meeting was attended by committee members representing key stakeholders and relevant government entities. The program aims to provide strategic guidance, oversight, and coordination among aviation stakeholders, while supporting effective implementation. It also focuses on enhancing monitoring practices and tracking progress to ensure continuous improvement in performance indicators, in alignment with the Aviation Sector Strategy and the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. In his remarks, Mr. Al-Duailej emphasized that CAESP is a cornerstone initiative in positioning the Kingdom as a global leader in sustainable aviation. He noted that the program has achieved significant and comprehensive progress across its pillars, including the activation of its regulatory framework, enhancement of its execution model, improvement of environmental data collection and analysis, and strengthening of monitoring and compliance mechanisms in line with national and international sustainability standards. He added that the sector has witnessed tangible achievements in recent phases, marking solid steps toward realizing the program’s objectives. These efforts contribute to building a sustainable aviation sector that balances economic growth with environmental preservation, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to protecting the environment for future generations. He also stressed the importance of continued teamwork and collaboration across all entities, particularly in environmental monitoring, verification, and data governance to ensure performance sustainability and output quality. Captain Suleiman bin Saleh Al-Muhaimeed, Executive Vice President for Aviation Safety and Environmental Sustainability at GACA, highlighted the importance of enhancing competitiveness in the aviation sector through integrated compliance and oversight systems. He affirmed that fostering a culture of commitment begins with top-down leadership, ensuring unified efforts and strategic clarity across all levels. The CAESP program is built on a robust governance framework and a comprehensive, integrated approach. It encompasses seven environmental pillars: greenhouse gas emissions, noise, biodiversity, waste management, air quality, energy and water efficiency, and climate change response. The program includes a range of initiatives, sub-programs, targets, and performance indicators developed specifically for the aviation sector. These are designed to meet national goals and fulfill international commitments within a defined timeline, leveraging enablers from both public and private sectors.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), represented by the committee responsible for reviewing violations of the Civil Aviation Law, has released its report for the third quarter of 2025. The report highlights the issuance of 246 violations, resulting in financial penalties exceeding SAR 4.8 million imposed on entities and individuals who breached the Civil Aviation Law, its executive regulations, and GACA’s official directives. The report revealed that 237 of the violations were issued against air carriers for failing to ensure passengers had the required documents and for violating GACA’s instructions. These fines amounted to over SAR 4.5 million. Additionally, 4 violations were issued to licensed companies and carriers for non-compliance with executive regulations, totaling SAR 260,000 in fines. Furthermore, the committee issued 3 violations against air carriers for failing to submit required data in accordance with GACA’s directives, with total fines reaching SAR 75,000. The report also noted a violation issued to an individual for operating a drone without obtaining prior authorization from GACA, resulting in a fine of SAR 1,000. Another violation was recorded for submitting false information during a flight license renewal application, with a fine of SAR 10,000. GACA emphasized that these actions reflect its commitment to transparency, regulatory oversight, and continuous improvement of the air transport sector. The authority remains dedicated to enhancing passenger experience and elevating the quality of air services across the Kingdom.  

His Excellency the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, chaired today the seventh meeting of the National Committee for Air Transport Facilitation, held at the Authority’s headquarters in Riyadh, with the participation of committee members representing relevant government entities. The meeting aimed to activate the committee’s work, during which several key topics were discussed, including: facilitating travel procedures at air ports, regulations related to aircraft, crew, and passengers, health procedures associated with air transport, and raising awareness among travelers regarding prohibited and hazardous materials. The meeting also included a visual presentation that addressed a number of topics related to streamlining procedures in the air transport sector. In addition, the current activities of the Authority and the committee’s future aspirations were reviewed, contributing to improved flow of movement at airports, development of technologies used to accelerate procedures, and reviewing the implementation of international regulations to support the achievement of the Aviation Program’s objectives.