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Laws & RegulationsReflecting on the Aviation Industry in 2023 National achievements and International indicators
January 3, 2024
During 2023, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) successfully achieved all its national targets within international expected indicators. These include the safety and security of its air carriers, airport development, smart solutions, improving of the traveler experience, quality and methodology, of operations management, protection of passengers and the air freight industry, all in accordance with the latest international standards.
The achievements for national aviation are a key element in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy for the aviation sector, positioning the Kingdom as the first aviation authority in the Middle East region with passenger numbers reaching 330 million, and increasing the number of targeted destinations to 250 destinations with the air freight sector reaching 4.5 million tons by the end of the decade with the intention of crteating the Kingdom as a logistical hub linking the three continents, and a global center for air transport and freight services.
The advances reflect the tremendous development and continuous growth witnessed by the aviation sector in the Kingdom to the highest global standards in safety and security, and continuing to innovate in the aviation sector as a key strategic component of Vision 2030 in line with economic growth objectives in the Kingdom to achieve sustainable development.
At an international level, during 2023, the Kingdom scored high in reaching advanced levels of development from achieving 94.4% in the aviation security audit and ranking seventh among G20 countries in the field of aviation security. It also advanced 14 places in the air connectivity index issued by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and under the chairmanship of the Aviation Security Committee at ICAO, Saudi Air Navigation Services (SANS) ranked second globally in the Air Traffic Management (ATM) Awards 2022 for the Airspace Management category. This was announced by the International Air Navigation Services Organization ( CANSO ) in cooperation with the Air Traffic Management Magazine ( ATM Magazine ).
On the Air Connectivity index, issued by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Kingdom climbed 14 places to reach 13th place on the index in 2023, from 27th place in 2019, a classification that includes more than 200 countries. Additional services during this year, the air route linking Jeddah to Cairo, ranked first in the Middle East as the best international air routes in demand and congestion, and ranked second at a global level. The route linking Riyadh to Dubai is ranked second in the Middle East and sixth in the world.
Within one year, several development projects, initiatives and services were completed, including the announcement, by His Highness the Crown Prince, of the launch of the general plan for Abha International Airport, the establishment of the Public Investment Fund for “Riyadh Air”, the new national air carrier, and the handing over of the economic license for air transport from the Authority, including the launch of a development and expansion projects, Al-Ahsa International Airport, and the opening of the new domestic travel lounge at Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Qassim. The new boarding lounge at the King Abdulaziz International Airport can accommodate 700,000 passengers, bringing the total capacity of the airport to 1,250,000 passengers. The additional upgrade includes the tourist visa issue hall upon arrival.
The phenomenal increase in air traffic has recorded more than 101 million passengers over the past year, the highest in the history of Saudi aviation so far, connecting to 150 destinations around the world, a significant increase of 42% of the Kingdom’s total air destinations in 2019.
The first four months of 2023 recorded a 42% increase in the number of passengers compared to the same period the previous year, with the numbers of passengers reaching 35.8 million compared to 25.3 million for the same period last year. The number of flights reached 263,000, an increase of 23.5% compared to 212,500 flights during the same period last year. The number of destinations also increased to 131, adding 57 new destinations, compared to 74 destinations in the same period in 2022.
The number of passengers to and from the Kingdom’s airports during the month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr for the year 1444 AH exceeded 11.5 million, from the beginning of the month of Ramadan until the ninth of Shawwal. Operating under the banner “Serving you is an honor” reflected the high quality of service offered through the collaboration and operational integration between government and private agencies, showing a significant increase of more than 25% over the previous year during the same period.
In line with its pioneering position in further developing the air transport industry across the board, the Kingdom hosted several global events and conferences, including the 15th Air Services Negotiation (ICAN2023) affiliated with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) event, and the 68th meeting of the Executive Council of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization (ACAO), as well as the 19th Extraordinary Meeting of the Civil Aviation Executive Committee in the GCC, the Air Transport Forum of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization, and in cooperation with the British Ministry of Transport, the first joint regional symposium on aviation security. In addition, the Regional Aviation Safety Oversight Organization for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA RSOO) was launched with Riyadh as its headquarters, as well as the inauguration of the first office of the Airports Council International in Asia, the Pacific and the Middle East.
The aviation sector is grateful for the unlimited support received from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Highness the Crown Prince in hosting the international and regional conferences and events in the Kingdom keeping pace with the rapid developments in this industry and positioning its achievements globally.
In line with the Authority’s intention to develop, and improve the quality of services provided to travelers and investors, and to provide opportunities, a new regulation was announced to protect the rights of travelers, an economic policy for the sector issuing three regulations, and the launch of the National Air Navigation Plan Initiative project to further develop and improve air navigation systems and procedures.
In addition to the granting of licenses to major international companies to operate commercial and logistics businesses in the integrated logistics zone in Riyadh, the following new initiatives were launched including; an electronic platform for the integrated special logistics zone, the National Air Navigation Plan, a project to develop a digital system for managing and monitoring passenger movement, as well as the new “Engine Packaging Center” by the Saudi Aeronautical Engineering Company, which includes many advanced facilities in aircraft engine maintenance, and is also part of the maintenance village at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.
The Kingdom has received global recognition for three of its airports in the Kingdom for the third consecutive year on the list of the 100 best airports in the world, according to SKYTRAX, World Airline Awards 2023. Among the top 10 most improved airports in the world, Saudi has four listed. Other second cluster airports, “Al-Ula International Airport - Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport - Arar Airport” have received “first level” accreditation certification for customer experience within the classification of the Airports Council International ( ACI ). The Jeddah Airports Company, Dammam Airports, and the second airport group received the Passenger Experience Accreditation Certificate for customer service from the ACI.
The Riyadh Airports Company also received the Human Resources Award HR TEAM OF THE YEAR participating in the FUTURE WORKPLACE AWARDS ceremony in Dubai. King Khalid Airport received a second level customer experience accreditation from the Airports Council International (ACI), and King Abdulaziz International Airport received a second level customer experience accreditation certificate from ACI. Dammam Airport received a customer experience (level three) certificate, as the first Saudi airport to obtain this accreditation from the ACI, in addition to winning a first-place at the “SKYTRAX 2023” awards for the best regional airport in the Middle East, with the Red Sea International Airport winning the “New Airport Award” at the 2023 World Travel Awards, confirming the commitment to sustainable aviation since the launch of the airport earlier this year.
In addition to all the international awards and global achievements “Air Navigation” received the Best Employer Certificate for 2023 from the Top Employer Foundation. “Ground Services” was honored with two international awards as the best company providing baggage handling services in the GCC, and the best company operating fleet services in the Kingdom, from the International Finance Awards Organization. Saudi Airlines climbed to 23rd place among the 2023’s best airlines in the world, up 11 places from 34th in the SKYTRAX rankings, voted by millions of travelers around the world. Furthermore, “Flynas” ranked fourth as best low-cost airline in the world, and won first place as the best low-cost airline in the Middle East for 2023, for the sixth time in a row, at the 54th Paris Air Show.
Locally, the Authority won two awards as for executive and financial performance, and the entity recognized for its international achievements, at the annual closing ceremony of the National Industrial Development and Logistics Services Program “Nadlab”. Its achievements are a reflection of its constant efforts to develop both executive and financial performance, as well as to improve operational efficiencies and the use of innovation and sustainability.
In order to contribute to raising the level of global connectivity and investments between the Kingdom and the rest of the world, the Authority signed 13 bilateral agreements in air services, in addition to 12 memoranda of understanding and cooperation, and seven records of discussion with countries of the world aimed at building international partnerships that will support the ambitious goals of the national strategy for the aviation sector. It aims to enhance the Kingdom’s air connectivity globally to 250 destinations, to be a global logistics platform, and to transport 330 million passengers annually by 2030.
The Authority also granted air services licenses to carriers and ground service providers at the Kingdom’s airports, with the aim of enabling civil aviation activities to contribute to achieving the strategic objectives of the aviation sector and enhancing its role as a regulator of the air transport industry in the Kingdom, and implementing qualitative partnerships with all parties. To enhance the capabilities of the aviation sector and raise performance efficiency to serve the Kingdom’s vision.
The Authority participated in more than 10 domestic and international exhibitions and more than 18 local and international conferences, including the 54th edition of the Paris Air Show, the Saudi-Brazilian Aviation Conference, the Dubai Air Show 2023, and the Third Aviation and Alternative Fuels Conference in Dubai, in addition to participating in the Supply Chain and Logistics Services Conference in Riyadh, the Forum for Investment in the Kingdom’s Special Economic Zones, and the Hajj and Umrah Conference, reviewing the role of the civil aviation sector in the Kingdom as an important engine driving the national economy, with the promising investment opportunities the sector provides and with the aim of being the first leading sector in the Middle East.
These achievements come within the framework of the initiatives and programs launched by the Authority to contribute to the development of the air transport industry locally, regionally and internationally, in accordance with the latest in international systems and standards.
Supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, the aviation sector aims to become the first in the Middle East region to (1) reach 330 million passengers, (2) raise air cargo capacity to 4.5 million tons, and (3) increase the level of air connectivity to 250 destinations from the Kingdom’s airports by 2030.