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The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announced that it has granted VistaJet, a leading company specializing in private aviation, the Foreign Operator Certificate, making it the first foreign private aviation company to receive this certification to operate domestic flights within the Kingdom.   The issuance of this certificate comes as part of GACA’s decision to allow foreign operators of private aircraft to conduct on demand flights within the Kingdom starting from May 1, 2025, after meeting all requirements and standards set out in the Civil Aviation Law’s executive regulations.   Awad bin Attallah Al Sulami, Executive Vice President for Economic Policies and Logistics Services at GACA, explained that granting the Air Operator Certificate to VistaJet as the first foreign operator of private aircraft for domestic operations in the Kingdom marks an important step towards advancing private aviation services. He noted that this move will foster greater competition, stimulate sector growth, and enhance service quality.   The issuance of the Air Operator Certificate is also one of the key pillars in achieving the objectives of the Aviation Program under the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which aims to position the Kingdom’s aviation sector as the leading player in the Middle East by 2030 and to transform the Kingdom into a global logistics hub connecting three continents. Private aviation, he stressed, represents a vital enabler for both business and tourism within and beyond the Kingdom.   VistaJet will commence its operations in the Kingdom as a strategic step that reflects the Kingdom’s vision of attracting high value investments and strengthening its position in the global aviation industry. This milestone underscores GACA’s commitment to applying the highest safety standards while enhancing the private aviation experience and ensuring service quality. It also aligns with GACA’s ongoing efforts to provide an attractive investment environment and extend full support to enable civil aviation activities, contributing to the goals of the Aviation Program and reinforcing GACA’s role as the regulator of the air transport industry in the Kingdom. By building strong partnerships with relevant stakeholders, GACA seeks to further empower the sector, raise operational efficiency, and support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) earned the international accreditation certificate for the Environmental Management System (ISO 14001:2015), after successfully meeting all requirements of external review and audit with no nonconformity remarks, reflecting the efficiency of its environmental ecosystem and its commitment to the highest global standards in this field. The certificate was presented during a reception at the authority headquarters in Riyadh, where GACA President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej received CEO of TUV Austria, the accreditation-granting company Muteb Al-Seif, in the presence of several officials from both sides. The achievement reaffirms GACA's commitment to applying the best environmental practices and achieving the objectives of the Saudi Civil Aviation Environmental Sustainability Program (CAESP) by enabling the sector to adopt effective environmental policies and standards that ensure operational continuity and efficiency, in line with the Kingdom’s environmental commitments under Saudi Vision 2030. GACA reiterated its firm commitment to developing its environmental ecosystem and enhancing sustainability practices through CAESP, ensuring continuous improvement of environmental performance, raising the quality of services, and boosting the sector’s competitiveness.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) concluded this evening in Riyadh the activities of the “AVITHON Hackathon 2025,” organized in cooperation with Elm Company and the Saudi Digital Program, with the attendance of senior officials, experts, and innovators. In a speech delivered during the closing ceremony, His Excellency Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of GACA, stated that the “AVITHON Hackathon” represents a leading national platform that reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to transforming innovation into reality, contributing to the development of the aviation sector and the achievement of Vision 2030 objectives. He said: “The Aviation Program, stemming from the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, has charted an ambitious vision for the future of this sector. It is centered on making the Kingdom a global hub for air connectivity, increasing annual passenger capacity to 330 million, and boosting air cargo capacity to 4.5 million tonnes by 2030, alongside developing infrastructure and enhancing sustainability in all aspects of operations.” He added: “To achieve these targets, we at GACA believe that innovation and modern technologies are the main drivers for improving operational efficiency, delivering exceptional user experiences, and strengthening the sector’s competitiveness on the global stage.” His Excellency praised the creative ideas and innovative solutions presented by the participants, noting that they were not merely technical projects but inspiring stories proving that determination and hard work can shape a more advanced and efficient future. He extended his appreciation to all partners, supporting entities, organizing committees, and everyone who contributed to the success of this challenge. The ceremony also featured a visual presentation chronicling the journey of the hackathon since its launch, followed by the presentation of the five most innovative ideas to the judging panel and the audience. At the conclusion of the event, His Excellency the GACA President crowned the winning teams after months of competition that brought together creative young talents from across the Kingdom. The ceremony also included honoring the organizing team and supporting partners. It is noteworthy that the “AVITHON Hackathon 2025” registered 1,720 participants representing 491 teams, who presented ideas and solutions across three main tracks: enhancing the customer experience in the aviation sector, sustainability in aviation, and aviation safety and security. A total of 241 participants, representing the top 50 teams, advanced to the semi-finals, while 60 participants, representing the top 15 teams, were awarded in the final judging stage. The event also featured more than 100 mentoring sessions for 50 teams, 300 written consultations for participants, and 80 workshops attended by 190 participants, with a total duration of 572 minutes. In addition, 357 questions were raised during the workshops, with a satisfaction rate of 98 percent. The challenge went through three successive judging stages conducted by three independent committees, under the supervision and follow-up of a higher committee from GACA to ensure the highest standards of integrity and transparency.

Today, His Excellency Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), met with His Excellency Mr. Ahmad Farooq, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at GACA’s headquarters in Riyadh. During the meeting, the two sides discussed matters of mutual interest and explored ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the civil aviation sector.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has announced the results of its 2024 Airport Service Quality Comprehensive Evaluation Program. The initiative, part of GACA’s broader strategic programs, aims to assess the quality of services provided to passengers across the Kingdom’s airports and enhance the overall travel experience. The 2024 edition of the Saudi Airports Awards was held during the 17th meeting of the Steering Committee for the Activation of the Aviation Program, which took place today in Riyadh. The event was attended by GACA President Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Duailej, along with CEOs of airport companies and representatives from both public and private sector stakeholders operating within Saudi airports. During the ceremony, the results of the evaluation program were presented, followed by GACA President Al Duailej honoring the winning airports with commemorative plaques in recognition of their efforts throughout the past year. The awards aimed to promote positive competitiveness, reinforce transparency, and recognize the outstanding performance witnessed across the Kingdom’s airports. The awards were divided into two categories. The main awards recognized top-performing airports in each category based on passenger volume, with evaluations covering all elements of the comprehensive program including operational performance standards, facility and service quality assessments, passenger satisfaction surveys, and complaint handling. The secondary awards focused on excellence in key travel areas and processes within airports, such as check-in, passport control, security screening, customs inspection, baggage claim, services for persons with disabilities, and the most improved airport compared to 2023. Engineer Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Dahmash, Executive Vice President for Quality and Customer Experience, noted that in 2024, GACA issued nearly 500 reports under the program. These included 336 monthly reports on operational performance, 112 quarterly reports covering service standards and passenger satisfaction, 27 semiannual summary reports, and 28 annual reports summarizing overall results for the year. Al Dahmash stated that thanks to the collaborative efforts of airports and related entities, notable improvements were observed. The average overall score achieved by Saudi airports in the 2024 evaluation reached 86 percent, marking a 4 percent increase compared to the previous year. GACA classified airports into five categories based on the nature and volume of air traffic in 2024, setting tailored performance targets for each category. The authority also implemented a series of detailed criteria to improve the passenger experience. These efforts included monitoring and tracking performance indicators related to service quality, measuring passenger satisfaction, and involving stakeholders and beneficiaries in service improvement efforts. It is worth noting that GACA continues to prioritize enhancing the travel experience in Saudi airports in line with its supervisory and regulatory role over the aviation and airport sector. The authority regularly conducts field inspections and publishes monthly reports on operational performance and complaint metrics for both airport service providers and airlines. These efforts aim to evaluate current service levels and drive continuous improvement in line with international standards, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goal to deliver world class service quality.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announced a notable increase in the number of passengers and flights in the Kingdom during the first half of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. Passenger numbers rose by 7% in the past six months, reaching over 66 million, up from 62 million in the same period last year. The number of flights increased by 4%, with nearly 463,800 flights recorded, compared to 445,800 flights in the first half of 2024. Meanwhile, air cargo volumes declined by 4%, reaching 575,000 tons compared to 597,000 tons in the same period of 2024. The number of destinations also grew by eight, reaching 140 destinations compared to 132 in the same period last year. These announcements were made during the 17th meeting of the Steering Committee for the Activation of the Aviation Program, chaired by His Excellency Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of GACA. The meeting was held in Riyadh in the presence of His Excellency Ahmed Al-Hassan, Assistant Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, as well as vice presidents, CEOs, officials, and directors representing national airlines and companies operating in the Kingdom’s civil aviation sector. During the meeting, His Excellency Al-Duailej expressed appreciation for the substantial support extended to the civil aviation sector by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. He also reviewed key achievements both locally and internationally, including the launch of Dammam Airports Company’s strategic plan, which aims to serve over 19.3 million passengers annually at King Fahd International Airport by 2030 and increase cargo capacity to more than 600,000 tons per year. Additionally, GACA announced the awarding of a new low-cost national airline license to a consortium led by Air Arabia in partnership with Nesma Holding and Kun Holding. The airline will operate domestic and international flights to and from King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, serving 24 domestic and 57 international destinations. The initiative aims to enhance air connectivity, transport nearly 10 million passengers annually via the airport by 2030, create more than 2,400 direct jobs, and contribute to the national GDP in line with the goals of the aviation sector program, while boosting tourism in Dammam and the Eastern Region. On the international front, the civil aviation sector participated in the Paris Air Show in June, where Saudi carriers announced significant aircraft purchase deals to support long-term goals in air connectivity and capacity expansion. Riyadh Air signed an agreement to purchase 25 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, with options for 25 additional aircraft. Meanwhile, AviLease submitted its first direct order to Airbus for up to 77 aircraft. At the Farnborough Air Show, the Saudi Group announced an order for ten Airbus A330-900 aircraft for its subsidiary flyadeal. GACA also took part this July in the High-Level Aviation Week in Singapore and witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Jeddah Airports Company and Changi Airport Group. Furthermore, a delegation visited Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to sign an air services agreement between the governments of Saudi Arabia and Mongolia. His Excellency Al-Duailej emphasized the importance of redoubling efforts to improve the overall performance of the sector, strengthen civil aviation’s role, and enhance its competitiveness to meet the leadership’s aspirations for the development of this vital sector in service of citizens and travelers. He commended all employees in the civil aviation ecosystem for their dedication and collaborative efforts despite the challenges facing the industry. The meeting also discussed updates on the activation of the aviation program, progress on recommendations from the 16th steering committee meeting, and updates on strategies, goals, and priorities of national airlines and companies operating in the Kingdom's airports, ensuring alignment with the aviation program. In addition, GACA announced the results of the 2024 Airport Service Quality Comprehensive Evaluation Program. GACA President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej honored the top-performing airports in recognition of their efforts, promoting positive competition, transparency, and outstanding performance across the Kingdom’s airports. Awards were presented in two categories: main awards for the highest-rated airports in each passenger volume category, based on all evaluation program elements — including operational performance, service and facility quality, passenger satisfaction surveys, and complaints. Secondary awards were also presented for excellence in specific areas of the passenger journey within airports, such as check-in, passport control, security screening, customs inspection, baggage claim, services for passengers with disabilities, and the most improved airport compared to 2023.