GACA celebrates International Civil Aviation Day amid unprecedented achievements

December 7, 2019

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) celebrated the International Civil Aviation Day, which falls on the seventh of December of each year. The aim is to enhance national awareness of the achievements of civil aviation and its importance in the national economy and pride in the state’s success. The success came through an unlimited support that the sector receives from the wise leadership. We are here to highlight the distinguished achievements in this vital sector. Furthermore, to keep abreast with the latest developments and innovations taken place, as well as explaining the importance of civil aviation in the social and economic development, and the great role it plays in achieving cooperation through a secure and safe air transport network.

GACA is participating in the celebration of the International Civil Aviation Day, with other international civil organizations entities, marking the signing of the International Civil Aviation Agreement in 1944 (also known as the Chicago Convention).

GACA’s celebration of International Civil Aviation Day coincides with ambitious achievements in various aviation sectors, as stated by specialized international organizations, including the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The IATA confirmed the contribution of the civil aviation sector in the Kingdom, which adds 5.6% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), at a value of $ 36.5 billion in 2018. This compared to 34 billion dollars in 2014, providing about 594 thousand jobs in 2018.  This is the year where the 100 million-passenger mark was broken, an increase of 22%, while the number of trips increased to about 771 thousand flights, an increase of 20% since 2015.  The kingdom comes in second amongst Arab countries for revenue generated from the civil aviation sector.

On the financial side, the revenues of GACA and its subsidiaries (invoiced) during the year 2018, revenues increased to more than (8.8) billion riyals, an increase of approximately 5% over the year 2017.  Meanwhile, GACA was able to increase its revenues collected during the year 2018 to reach (6.2) billion Riyals.  Meanwhile, GACA’s expenditures declined during 2018 to approximately (7.2) billion riyals.  That amounted to a decrease of 12% compared to 2017, during which the expenses amounted to approximately (8.2) billion riyals. GACA was able to develop one of its most important goals, which is the strategy to develop its financial resources and work with commercial foundations to achieve the fundamentals financial independence.

At the airport level, this industry, which is one of the greatest tributaries of the economy around the world, has grown in the Kingdom and had a direct impact on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).  Meanwhile, modern technologies in airports play a pivotal role in the air transport industry and improve the experience of the traveling public.  Passengers are expected to increase with the arrival of the beneficiaries of the electronic tourist visa. The annual report included the most prominent achievements of the GACA in infrastructure projects, as GACA achieved progress in many projects, including development and construction, during 2018.

On the projects and construction side, GACA boasted the inauguration by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud last month, the new King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Terminal one.  The project is considered one of the great feats with its capacity, services and geographical location, and is the gateway to the Two Holy Mosques.  This in addition to the establishment of Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport. Also, the entirely new international airport in Madinah, which was inaugurated in 2015.  Furthermore, the establishment and development of terminal five at King Khalid International Airport, which was inaugurated in 2017.  Furthermore, the development of the private aviation terminal and lounge area at King Khalid International Airport, 2018.  There were also development of Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport terminal in Tabuk 2018 and opening of NEOM Bay Airport in 2019 and the development of Abha International Airport in 2019.

Furthermore, on the quality, safety and services side, GACA has received international acclaim in this regard, including raising the rate of completion of the State Safety Program (SSP) on the ICAO self-evaluation platform from 54% to 96.4% in 2018.  GACA also hosted the headquarters of the Regional Organization for Air Safety Monitoring (RSOO), where the Saudi capital of Riyadh became its headquarters. This was reinforced by GACA hosting of the fourth safety summit in the Middle East 2018, the permanent headquarters of the Cooperative Program for Civil Aviation Security in the ICAO Middle East region in 2018, and GACA obtaining an ISO for quality in the field of safety, security and air transport 2018.

On the competitiveness side of the market, GACA has been keen to support this framework, liberalize the market, and place it in a competitive service framework.  It also enacted laws and regulations that serve the market and revive it with the aim of advancing the service of travelers. In the Kingdom's air, transport market operates five national air carriers along with Saudi Arabian Airlines, namely (NAS Air, Nesma, Saudi Gulf Company, Sky Prime, Al-Bairaq and Adeal Air).  This in addition to the increase in the number of foreign air carriers operating in the Kingdom's airports, which have reached in 2019 more than (140) carriers.  GACA is also converting the air navigation services sector, King Khalid International Airport and King Fahd International Airport into a company. Meanwhile, there is the presence of the support services sector, which is represented by ten maintenance service providers companies and three ground-handling companies. In addition to three catering companies and four training academies in addition to the company air navigation provider for air services.  In the pipeline, a plan to license (98) new air cargo agencies.

In terms of regulations and legislations, GACA has created and developed many laws and regulations, including amending the regulations related to licenses granted to Saudis (pilots, air engineers, air traffic controllers and dispatchers ... etc.).  These licenses are suppose to be valid for life and allow light aircraft operators to self-service in the Kingdom’s airports, without requiring them to obtain service from ground service providers. GACA is also issuing drones licenses, and has launched an electronic platform for registering and authorizing unmanned of aircrafts.  GACA also issued and published the executive regulations on customer protection rights.

On the International level, the Kingdom won an ICAO Council election in 2019, which are held every 3 years.  Furthermore, GACA hosted and organized the 2019 International Civil Aviation Conference held under the auspices of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques (may God protect him) in the capital city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. GACA also concluded a (122) bilateral agreements for air transport services with a number of countries. Meanwhile GACA concluded and updated (31) bilateral memorandum of understanding with a number of countries.

In terms of servicing the pilgrims, GACA has set itself a goal of attracting 30 million pilgrims as one of the desirable objectives of the Kingdom's vision 2030.  There are many successes stories to be told, the most prominent of which is the number of pilgrims in the arrival and departure stages at Jeddah and Madinah airports, which exceed (3.4) million pilgrims in 2019 With an increase over 27.24% than the year 2015.  Eyab initiative was launched in both Jeddah and Madinah airports, which aims to quicken check-in procedures easily and automatically from their place of residence and before arriving at the airport.

The achievements are continuing under the wise leadership, which supports this sector and other developmental sectors around the Kingdom. A wise vision that worked to lay the foundations for a sound infrastructure and appropriate systems and investments to provide innovative products and a distinct customer experience.  All of which contribute together in building a prominent global center for aviation. GACA is continuing to achieve this vision by maintaining the pace of growth in the aviation sector in conjunction with achieving the highest standards approved in the field of safety and security, and continue to activate innovation, which is a founding value inherent in the air transport industry and a catalyst to evolvement and development around the world.