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October 13, 2024 The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has awarded four commercial licenses to leading global companies in the fields of innovative technology, artificial intelligence, logistics services, and e-commerce to operate in the Riyadh Integrated Special Logistics Zone. GACA President Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej attended the license handover ceremony at the Global Logistics Forum 2024, organized by the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services from October 12 to 14 at the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh. Represented by Executive Vice President for Economic Policies and Logistics Awad Al-Sulami GACA granted a commercial license to a subsidiary of Alat, in partnership with a leading innovative technology and AI company, to engage in light manufacturing operations and logistics services. In the manufacturing sector, GACA issued a commercial license to Bahri Logistics to provide logistics services for Boeing aircraft spare parts. The license was handed over to Bahri Logistics President Soror Basalom enabling investment in the Riyadh Integrated Special Logistics Zone. Additionally, the Danish company Danfoss was granted a commercial license to conduct light manufacturing operations. In the e-commerce sector, GACA issued a commercial license to SHEIN for product distribution. The license aims to establish a regional distribution hub in the zone to serve the Middle East and North Africa.

October 13, 2024 President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej stressed that the National Aviation Strategy focuses on positioning the Kingdom as one of the top global logistics hubs by 2030. Al-Duailej made his remarks while participating in a panel discussion on the role of air freight in enhancing the Kingdom's leadership in the global logistics sector. The panel discussion was part of the Global Logistics Forum, held in Riyadh under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and organized by the Ministry of Transport and Logistics from October 12 to 14. He explained that the Kingdom enjoys a unique geographical location, situated at the crossroads of three continents, with approximately 50% of the world's population within a five-hour flight. Al-Duailej added that this positioning enables the Kingdom to connect quickly and efficiently to vital markets through air freight, especially in a world where supply chains are under increasing pressure due to geopolitical factors. Al-Duailej pointed out that the Kingdom seeks to expand its air freight capabilities by increasing its fleet from the current seven cargo planes to 27, in collaboration with national carriers. He noted that this move supports the Kingdom's air freight goals, where the number of aircraft is expected to increase from 241 to 657 by 2030, including 187 wide-body and 470 narrow-body aircraft, positioning the Kingdom’s aviation infrastructure as a globally competitive power.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) will take part in the Global Logistics Forum (GLF), held under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The event, hosted by the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services, will take place from October 12-14, 2024, at the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh. With over 100 speakers, including industry experts, leaders, and government representatives, GLF offers a platform to discuss the future of the logistics sector. GACA's participation is an opportunity to highlight the Kingdom's commitment to transforming into a global logistics hub by 2030, as outlined in the National Aviation Strategy and the National Transport and Logistics Strategy. GACA aims to increase air cargo capacity from 0.8 million tons in 2023 to 4.5 million tons by 2030, making Saudi Arabia a crucial link in global supply chains. This ambitious goal is supported by a $100 billion investment in modernizing the Kingdom's aviation infrastructure and leveraging its strategic geographical location. GLF is expected to attract over 10,000 visitors from 30 countries, providing a valuable platform for exchanging best practices and addressing industry challenges.

October 9, 2024 The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), represented by the Air Transport and International Cooperation Sector, has announced its approval for Cathay Pacific Airways to begin operating regular passenger flights between Hong Kong and Riyadh. The flights, scheduled for the winter season of 2024, will operate three times per week, starting on October 28, 2024. This initiative is part of GACA’s ongoing efforts to enhance air connectivity and strengthen Saudi Arabia’s links with the global community. It aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to position the Kingdom as a global logistics platform and open new travel opportunities in accordance with the Saudi Aviation Strategy.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), represented by the committee concerned with violations of the Civil Aviation Law, issued its report for the third quarter of 2024, which included the issuance of 197 violations. These violations involved imposing financial fines totaling SAR 8,698,100 on entities and individuals who violated the Civil Aviation Law, executive regulations, and instructions issued by the authority. The report showed that 177 violations were issued against air carriers for failing to comply with the Passenger Rights Protection Regulation, with fines amounting to SAR 8.4 million. Additionally, 4 other violations were issued against air carriers for non-compliance with the Civil Aviation Law and the authority’s instructions, with total fines reaching SAR 150,000. Furthermore, 3 violations were issued against licensed companies for failing to comply with the licensing provisions issued by the authority, with fines totaling SAR 60,000. The report also revealed that the committee issued 13 violations against individuals. These included 4 violations related to individuals using drones without obtaining a permit from the General Authority of Civil Aviation, with total fines of SAR 25,000, as well as 9 violations related to passengers not following aviation safety instructions and misconduct on board, with total fines of SAR 3,100. The authority clarified that these measures are part of its commitment to transparency and clarity, emphasizing its continuous role in regulating and monitoring the aviation sector, improving passenger experience, and enhancing the quality of air transport services in the Kingdom.

The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) today awarded the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) the “Hayyak” Saudi Quality Certificate in recognition of its excellence in customer service. The certificate was received by Eng. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Dahmash, Executive Vice President for Quality and Customer Experience, from Eng. Saud bin Rashid Al-Askar, SASO’s Deputy Governor for Conformity and Operations, during a visit by a SASO delegation to GACA’s headquarters in Riyadh. GACA earned the certificate after successfully implementing the standards required by SASO across all types of centers that provide services to beneficiaries. The award comes as a culmination of its efforts to serve beneficiaries, while the authority continues to strive for excellence in providing top-quality services. Eng. Faisal bin Khalid Al-Habib, Director General of Beneficiary Care at GACA, emphasized the authority’s commitment to delivering the best services to its beneficiaries. He noted that obtaining the certificate came after implementing the requirements of the technical regulation for the Saudi Quality Certificate for customer service centers. This ensures service quality in line with institutional work principles and the requirements of various quality management systems. He added that this achievement reflects GACA’s ongoing efforts to deliver the highest levels of quality and service, constantly seeking ways to enhance the traveler experience. It demonstrates GACA’s dedication to elevating the quality of services provided to both passengers and beneficiaries, as one of its top priorities, by offering services that meet the highest international standards in line with the goals of the National Aviation Strategy. Al-Habib also noted that GACA’s Beneficiary Care Center underwent a comprehensive evaluation of the quality of its customer services, based on specific standards and criteria aimed at enhancing competitiveness and service quality. The standards of the certificate focus on developing customer service centers across all government, private, and non-profit organizations, and cover direct services provided to beneficiaries, including face-to-face interactions, phone calls, self-service systems, electronic services, and other similar channels. The goal is to raise the level of customer service centers, simplify procedures, reduce processing time, and establish unified service standards, in addition to improving customer satisfaction, performance benchmarks, and the overall service environment to ensure service quality. He affirmed GACA’s continuous efforts to provide all services to passengers and beneficiaries with the highest quality standards, in line with the objectives of the National Aviation Strategy. It is worth noting that GACA, in June 2024, received two gold awards for Best Customer Service and Best Government Contact Center across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa during its participation in the annual Contact Center World Conference held in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Additionally, in March, GACA received an award from the Consumer Protection Association for its efforts in safeguarding passengers’ rights, during a ceremony held in Riyadh in conjunction with World Consumer Rights Day.