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The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia is opening the domestic private aviation market to international operators, by announcing the removal of cabotage restrictions for foreign on-demand charter flights within the Kingdom. The decision is part of GACA’s broader strategy to boost the private jet market, supported by the establishment of a sector development committee to engage international and domestic business jet operators. The new policy, effective May 1, 2025, will allow foreign charter operators to apply for permission to operate domestic flights, following specific requirements set by GACA. “GACA is unlocking new opportunities for the global aviation industry, by removing restrictions on charter flight businesses to operate domestically in the Kingdom,” said Imtiyaz Manzary, General Manager for General Aviation at GACA. “This regulatory decision supports GACA’s roadmap to establish Saudi Arabia as a general aviation hub, alongside an unprecedented infrastructure program to establish new private airports and terminals across the Kingdom.” The removal of cabotage restrictions marks an important step in GACA’s strategy to enhance competition, attract foreign investment and provide greater flexibility for operators in the general aviation industry. Alongside this decision, GACA has announced a national General Aviation Sector Development committee to enhance Saudi Arabia’s proposition as a general aviation hub, including international private aviation investors, operators, and service providers. The committee will engage on infrastructure planning and regulatory processes, to enhance the Kingdom’s general aviation sector value proposition. GACA’s General Aviation Roadmap was launched during the Future Aviation Forum in May 2024, including a comprehensive transformation program to develop the general aviation sector into a $2 billion industry by 2030, supporting 35,000 jobs. The roadmap aligns infrastructure planning and regulations across the sector, delivering six dedicated business aviation airports and a further nine dedicated business aviation terminals. The Roadmap will also increase the number of business aviation Fixed-Base Operators and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul capacity for business jets. Saudi Arabia’s business jet sector achieved a record 24% jump in flight volumes in 2024 to 23,612 flights, with domestic jet flights rising 26% to 9,206 and international jet flights rising 15% to 14,406.

General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej inaugurated a first-of-its-kind Air Cargo Security Control Center at GACA's Riyadh headquarters yesterday. The center connects with all authorized air cargo agencies nationwide. By leveraging advanced remote inspection and surveillance technologies, the center enhances air cargo supply chain security through real-time monitoring of all agency procedures. The inauguration of this center aligns with GACA's commitment to developing a robust and advanced security monitoring system. By automating procedures in line with the latest global technologies, GACA aims to enhance operational efficiency and increase the Kingdom's air cargo volume, contributing to the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. The center will serve as a unified platform, integrating all key stakeholders in the Kingdom's air cargo security. This centralized approach will facilitate faster decision-making, enable the implementation of advanced security measures across the entire supply chain, and allow for more flexible cargo movement while maintaining the highest levels of security. By providing technical support for GACA's Washaj digital platform and facilitating direct coordination between relevant entities, the center will streamline the Kingdom's cargo and logistics operations while bolstering the global competitiveness of national exports. Operating a round-the-clock remote inspection system, the center will oversee national air cargo supply chain security through 40 authorized agencies across four main regions connected to the Kingdom's ports. To maximize security and safety, the center leverages cutting-edge technologies, including IoT and advanced risk analytics, to track shipments from the moment agencies receive them to their arrival at airports. Trained personnel from various national security agencies will operate the center 24/7, overseeing cargo operations from initial data entry on the Washaj platform. This includes monitoring X-ray inspections, surveillance camera footage at shipping agencies, and vehicle tracking systems. The center will ensure that all procedures adhere to the highest global security standards. GACA remains committed to advancing Saudi Arabia's air cargo sector by enhancing capacity, improving logistics capabilities, and delivering professional services that optimize operational speed and efficiency.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), hosted today at the Radisson Blu Airport Hotel in Riyadh, the 11th meeting of the Executive Steering Committee of the Cooperative Aviation Security Programme Middle East (CASP-MID). The meeting was chaired by CASP-MID Chairman and GACA's Executive Vice President for Aviation Security Mohammed Alfozan, along with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Regional Director for the Middle East Regional Office Mohamed Abubaker Farea. The meeting included representatives from member states of the program, as well as delegations from ICAO, the Arab Civil Aviation Organization (ACAO), and various supporting international bodies. Participants included representatives from seven countries: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Lebanon, Sudan, and Yemen. EVP Alfozan emphasized the significance of these regular meetings in addressing key issues related to civil aviation security. He noted that continued participation from member states is crucial for fostering greater cooperation and improving aviation security both regionally and globally, ultimately contributing to a secure future for civil aviation. Participants at the meeting praised the accomplishments of CASP-MID over the past year. They acknowledged the Kingdom’s leadership in advancing aviation security in the region and its ongoing support for member states and the program's initiatives, which are vital to safeguarding civil aviation from potential threats or illegal interference.

Led by Eng. Mohammed Alkhuraisi, Vice President of Strategy and Business Intelligence at the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), a civil aviation sector delegation took part in today's Saudi British roundtable meeting in the UK, joining major British aviation companies. The gathering brought together CEOs, officials, and specialists from aviation, airports, and related service sectors. Discussions centered on strengthening strategic partnerships, fostering economic development, and pursuing opportunities that support Saudi Vision 2030 goals. The meeting highlighted the Saudi Arabia's aviation sector achievements and facilitated the exchange of expertise, opinions, and investment opportunities with private sector stakeholders. Eng. Alkhuraisi's speech emphasized the robust Saudi British strategic relationship and its key role in fostering economic growth and cultural exchange between the friendly nations. He referenced the recent December agreement targeting $37.5 billion in bilateral trade by 2030, demonstrating the economic significance of this partnership. The relationship's strength is evidenced by the presence of more than 1,000 British companies with Saudi investment licenses and 55 with regional headquarters permits, including BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce. He explained that Saudi Arabia and the UK maintain strong relations in civil aviation, with the UK representing the Saudi Arabia's primary European market. The total number of travelers between Saudi Arabia and Britain in 2024 more than doubled compared to 2022, reaching 1,338,000 passengers. He reported that the Saudi Arabia has successfully launched major investments in airline and airport infrastructure, including establishing Riyadh Air as a new national carrier, launching the masterplan for King Salman International Airport (KSIA) in Riyadh, and various other sector infrastructure investments. These initiatives aim to achieve Saudi Vision 2030 and National Aviation Strategy targets of doubling passenger numbers to 330 million annually, increasing the Saudi Arabia's air connectivity to more than 250 destinations worldwide, and increasing air cargo capacity to 4.5 million tons annually. GACA's VP for Strategy and Business Intelligence wrapped up his speech by urging UK investors and aviation industry representatives to collaborate on developing partnerships, promoting economic growth, and exploring new frontiers that would advance the global aviation sector. Following that, delegation members presented an overview of the civil aviation system, including airport sector strategies and key achievements, air transport and international cooperation's role in enhancing air connectivity to reach 250 destinations, enabling technology and digital transformation, along with a brief overview of the Saudi airports sector - including implementation mechanisms, investment volume, and business opportunities - while highlighting investment in the Saudi aviation sector, enabling factors, and incentives. The delegation also participated in the civil aviation supply forum, where several meetings were held with UK aviation industry representatives from the British Aviation Group (BAG), representatives from the British Air Navigation Company, the British Civil Aviation Authority, and several globally leading companies, with government representatives from the British Embassy to the Saudi Arabia in attendance. These meetings discussed available investment opportunities in civil aviation and airport development. The visit aims to expand international cooperation and exchange expertise in civil aviation, supporting Saudi Vision 2030 goals of establishing Saudi Arabia as a global aviation hub. It seeks to attract global investors, strengthen Saudi-US economic ties, and showcase Saudi Arabia's aviation initiatives to create more travel options, attract quality investments, and enable private sector opportunities in both countries.

Riyadh Air has received its first simulator certification from GACA for its B787-9 aircraft simulator, after it met all required aviation safety standards. The license was presented by Captain Sulaiman bin Saleh Al-Muhaimidi, GACA Executive Vice President of Aviation Safety and Environmental Sustainability, to Peter Bellew, COO of Riyadh Air. The license issuance demonstrates GACA's dedication to strengthening the aviation sector while adhering to international safety and quality standards. It also shows GACA's commitment to embracing new technologies and collaborating with private sector partners to enhance aviation training infrastructure, ensuring the sector's sustainable growth and leadership. This simulator represents a qualitative addition aimed at improving pilot training quality and efficiency, providing a training environment that accurately simulates reality, contributing to enhanced operational readiness and highest levels of operational safety. It is worth noting that the National Civil Aviation Sector Strategy aims to enable Saudi Vision 2030 and establish the Kingdom's aviation sector as 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 the Kingdom's airports by 2030.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) yesterday issued its monthly performance report for December 2024 on the Kingdom's international and domestic airports, assessing them based on 11 operational performance standards to align with strategic objectives aimed at improving services, enhancing quality, and ensuring a seamless traveler experience.  King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jizan, Arar International Airport, and Turaif Airport ranked highly in the report, with GACA categorizing airports for performance evaluation based on annual passenger numbers to ensure a transparent approach.  Among the category of international airports with more than 15 million passengers annually, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh achieved first place with an 82% compliance rate. King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah came in second, with 73%.  King Fahd International Airport in Dammam tied for the first place with Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah in the category of international airports serving 5 to 15 million passengers annually, with a 91% compliance rate. The first outperformed the latter in terms of several standards.  In the category of 2 to 5 million annual passengers, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jizan tied for first place with Abha International Airport, both achieving a 100% compliance rate. The first outperformed the latter by reaching higher targets in the specified evaluation criteria.  In the category of airports with fewer than 2 million annual passengers, Arar International Airport achieved a 100% compliance rate, outperforming its competitors in terms of average waiting time for departing and arriving flights.  Turaif Airport achieved first place in the domestic airport category, with a 100% compliance rate, outperforming all competing airports in terms of average waiting time for departing and arriving flights.  GACA evaluates airport performance through operational performance standards, focused on critical passenger touchpoints. These include check-in, security, passport control, customs, baggage claim, and assistance to passengers with reduced mobility. These metrics ensure a smooth and efficient travel experience for all passengers, aligning with international best practices.