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The Seventh Meeting of the Aerodrome Safety, Planning and Implementation Group (ASPIG/7) kicked off today in Riyadh and will continue until April 10. The event is organized by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Regional Office in Cairo, and with the participation of representatives from the member states of the office, along with representatives from international organizations such as the Airports Council International (ACI), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations (IFALPA).  In his opening remarks, GACA Executive Vice President for Aviation Safety and Environmental Sustainability Captain Sulaiman Almuhaimedi welcomed the participants and expressed his hope that the meeting would result in sharing the best experiences and practices in air navigation and civil aviation safety. He stressed the importance of leveraging expertise and personnel, establishing the highest levels of aviation safety, and raising awareness of the latest developments related to the Air Navigation and Aviation Safety Group.  Almuhaimedi noted that the Kingdom is undergoing a remarkable transformation in the civil aviation sector, which plays a central role in its future vision and is an integral part of the National Aviation Strategy. He said Saudi Arabia's investments go beyond building world-class infrastructure to include systems, personnel, and partnerships that form the foundation of a safe, sustainable, and globally connected aviation sector.  The five-day meeting aims to discuss the technical aspects of airport operations, develop airport safety policies and standards, exchange expertise, analyze challenges, and explore available opportunities. Hosting this event highlights the Kingdom's prominent and active role through GACA in boosting aviation safety standards and ensuring sustainability at the regional and international levels.

In the presence of Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, President of GACA Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej today handed over the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) to Chief Executive Officer of Riyadh Air Tony Douglas, officially authorizing the new national carrier to commence scheduled flights to and from airports across the Kingdom.  The issuance of the certificate follows Riyadh Air's successful fulfillment of all regulatory and operational requirements in accordance with the executive regulations of the Civil Aviation Law, particularly those related to safety, security, and operational quality standards.  This milestone reflects GACA's commitment to upholding world-class regulatory practices. The updated AOC marks a significant step toward enhancing the passenger experience and maintaining the highest aviation safety standards. It also supports GACA's broader efforts to create an attractive investment environment and to foster the growth and sustainability of the aviation sector, in line with the goals of the National Aviation Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030.  Minister Al-Jasser emphasized that the issuance of the AOC to Riyadh Air represents a foundational pillar of the Kingdom's aviation strategy, which aims to position Saudi Arabia as the Middle East’s leading aviation hub by 2030. The strategy includes transforming the Kingdom into a global logistics hub connecting three continents, supporting tourism objectives, and establishing Riyadh as a global gateway and central hub for transportation, trade, and tourism.  Riyadh Air plans to operate flights to over 100 international destinations by 2030. The airline has placed orders for more than 132 aircraft and is expected to generate over 200,000 direct and indirect jobs in the aviation sector, contributing an estimated SAR75 billion to the Kingdom's non-oil GDP.  

His Excellency Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), extended his congratulations to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and to His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, as well as to the Saudi people, on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr. His Excellency noted that the dedication of the Kingdom’s leadership to serving pilgrims visiting the Two Holy Mosques is seen in the coordinated efforts to streamline services at Saudi airports during the peak Umrah season. Institutional support for Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation sector has driven significant operational improvements and upgrading of nationwide airport facilities. Through public-private collaboration, this dynamic sector offers premium services to travelers and pilgrims while fulfilling the National Aviation Strategy and Vision 2030 goals. Al-Duailej drew attention to the notable increase in air passenger numbers during the peak Umrah season. The broad ecosystem of the Kingdom’s civil aviation sector enables smooth arrivals and departures via advanced technologies including self-service passenger processing, which reduce delays while integrating airport systems with other transportation modes. His Excellency affirmed that operational teams have worked round the clock at maximum readiness, to ensure a seamless travel experience. Concluding his message, Al-Duailej prayed that Almighty God would accept everyone’s fasting and prayers and to bless the Kingdom, its leadership, and its people with prosperity, grace, and abundance on the joyous occasion of Eid al-Fitr.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) today launched its monthly report tracking airport and national carrier flight punctuality for February 2025, measuring arrivals and departures within a 15-minute window of scheduled times. The report offers passengers transparent insights into airline and airport scheduling compliance, with the aim of improving service quality, raising standards, and enhancing the overall passenger experience. The report indicates that Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, Dammam’s King Fahd International Airport, Jazan’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport, NEOM Bay International Airport, and Sharurah Airport all achieved leading positions. The report divides airports into five categories, with King Khalid International Airport ranking first in the category of international airports serving over 15 million passengers annually, achieving an 86% compliance rate. King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, ranked number one in the category of international airports serving 5-15 million passengers annually, with 85% compliance. In the category of international airports serving 2-5 million passengers annually, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jazan, attained first place, at 92% compliance. NEOM Bay International Airport achieved first place in the fourth category of international airports serving less than two million passengers annually, with 93% compliance, while Sharurah Airport topped the fifth category for domestic airports, hitting 97% compliance. Among national carriers, Saudia led the rankings with 88% on-time arrival rate and 90% on-time departures. Flynas achieved compliance rates of 79% for arrivals and 82% for departures, and flyadeal achieved 84% for arrivals and 90% for departures. The report also spotlights top-performing routes, with the domestic Jazan-Riyadh flight showing 97% compliance, while Riyadh-Amman flight ranked first among international flights with a compliance rate of 94%. These latest GACA initiatives contribute to Saudi Arabia’s National Aviation Strategy, which aims to establish the Kingdom as a leading regional aviation hub via boosting of operational standards, efficiency and passenger service.

His Excellency Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, President of General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), today met with Mr. Tarik Talbi, Morocco’s Director General of Civil Aviation, at GACA ’s Riyadh headquarters. The two officials discussed matters of mutual interest and explored potential enhancement of bilateral cooperation in the civil aviation sector.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), represented by the committee responsible for reviewing violations of Civil Aviation Law, released its report for the first quarter (Q1) of 2025. It detailed the issuance of 147 violations and the imposition of financial penalties exceeding SAR3.8 million on entities and individuals found in contravention of the law, its implementing regulations, and instructions issued by GACA.  The report indicated two violations against air carriers for non-compliance with the Passenger Name Record (PNR) system and for failure to adhere to competition regulations, totaling SAR15,000 in fines. Furthermore, 63 violations were issued against air carriers for failing to verify passengers' required documentation and for non-compliance with approved time slots, resulting in fines exceeding SAR1 million.  The committee issued 61 violations against air carriers for non-compliance with the Passenger Rights Protection Regulations, with total fines exceeding SAR2.7 million. Additionally, 21 violations were issued against individual passengers for failing to follow aviation safety instructions and for engaging in disruptive behavior onboard aircraft, with total fines amounting to SAR12,400.  These measures underscore GACA's commitment to transparency, its ongoing regulatory and supervisory role in the aviation sector, its dedication to improving the passenger experience, and its focus on enhancing the quality of air transport services in the Kingdom.