The civil aviation sector in 2021 … a set of achievements that are soaring in the horizons of global leadership


The civil aviation sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia witnessed unlimited interest and support from the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his Crown Prince (may God protect them), because of its conviction of its importance, which lies in its vitality and dynamism, as well as being a major propeller of the national economy, social and economic development and a strong influence in various other sectors. This in addition to its main contributions toward the Kingdom's Vision 2030.
 
This support and great attention was reflected in the performance results and the development of the system in general, where the Kingdom became the most competitive in the world and contributed to advancing the wheel of economic growth and strengthening the Kingdom's link with other countries around the world in record time.
 
Proceeding from these facts, the sector achieved during 2021 a series of unprecedented achievements in record time that soared into the horizons of global leadership and contributed to the development of the air transport industry locally, regionally and internationally. Most notably the announcement by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, concerning the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services, which was preceded by the approval of the Council of Ministers on  The civil aviation sector strategy, which will triple the capacity of passengers flow to reach 300 million passengers annually, from more than 250 destinations from around the world by the year 2030. This in addition to raising the cargo capacity to 4.5 million tons of goods by 2030.
 
During the year, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) completed several projects, as it launched a package of services, including the inauguration of the new Arar airport, in addition to the development and expansion of several Saudi airports. Moreover, it has invested on the institutional transformation project for airports to enhance the governance of the air transport sector, attract more local and international investments, and expand partnership with the private sector. Enabling business growth, supporting integration in the transportation and logistics system, and enhancing the quality of services for customers and travellers.
 
 Internationally, the Kingdom won membership in the Executive Council of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization (ACAO). The Kingdom also obtained membership in all five technical committees: (Air Transport Committee, Air Safety Committee, Aviation Security Committee, Air Navigation Committee, and Environment Committee). This in addition to the Kingdom winning the presidency of the Aviation Security Committee of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization, with the unanimity of the member states, and thus the Kingdom continues to chair the Aviation Security Committee for the second time in a row, which clearly reflects the prestigious international position that the Kingdom enjoys in international forums related to civil aviation.
 
The Kingdom also signed an agreement to establish a headquarters for the International Air Transport Association (IATA), by hosting its regional office in the Kingdom. This comes within the Kingdom's interest and support for regional and international civil aviation organizations and the provision of various forms of support to them, for their role in contributing to the development of the field of air transport, to complement the Kingdom's efforts to support and empower organizations that are based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
 
During the recovery period from the Corona crisis, , GACA and in cooperation with the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence “SDAIA”, linked the health passport in the “Tawakklna” application of “SDAIA” with the International Air Transport Association “IATA” that includes aspects related to facilitating travel procedures according to the best international practices. Furthermore, the acceptance of the Health Passport platform as an initiative to digitize health certificates from trusted sources and accredited laboratories through cooperation with airlines.
 
Meanwhile, the Kingdom received international recognition, with three airports in the Kingdom for the second year in a row, ranking among the top 100 airports in the world, according to the assessment of Skytrax. Moreover, the classification of 4 Saudi airports among the top 10 improved airports in the world, according to the same report. This was followed by the Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation winning membership and a seat in the Global Aviation Training Council an affiliate of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and its obtaining the accreditation of the Airports Council International (ACI-ATI) as the second training center in the world after the Munich Airport Training Center in Germany. Furthermore, the renewal of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) accreditation of the Saudi Academy as an approved training center (ATC). Further, the Saudi Air Navigation Company winning the Technical Excellence Award for the innovation of the MMS Maintenance Management System, and the Fifth Place globally in the Safety Award. This in addition to the Altanfeethi Company, which in the field of managing and operating executive lounges at the Kingdom’s airports, winning the first place in the gold classification as the best customer experience at the International Business Excellence Awards ceremony organized by the International Company for Awards International, among many local and international participating companies.
 
In the field of international training and program support in accordance with the highest international standards, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) granted an international training license to four Saudi trainers from GACA, bringing the number of internationally accredited Saudi trainers to 7 trainers in the field of aviation security, which reflects the ability of Saudi cadres, who are qualified and skilled in their specializations in the exchange of experiences, and highlights the role of GACA as an effective partner in the civil aviation industry at the international level.
 
At the local level, GACA have won three awards from the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program “NIDLP”, which included: the first place award for the best entity for the improvement in executive performance at the level of the program for the year 2021, the first place award for the most prominent bodies attracting investments and enabling enterprise investments, and the award for the best initiative. The performance included the initiative to improve the overall customer experience at airports and the initiative to establish and develop the integrated logistics zone at King Khalid International Airport "Phase One".
 
In the field of the air freight system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, GACA has undertaken many initiatives and signed agreements that contribute to the development of the air freight system in the Kingdom and liberalize its services to give the logistics sector the necessary flexibility to increase its capacity in implementation of the civil aviation strategy that aims to enable air freight and double its capacity to 4.5 million of tons of goods. This includes the inauguration of the expansion of the new SAL station at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, and the signing of the second license for handling air freight at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah with the Singaporean company SATS. Further, the signing of a contract to provide service for express parcel companies at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah with SAL Saudi Logistics Services.
 
In the field of airport security and protection, GACA inaugurated the Security Control and Monitoring Center at AlUla International Airport. This comes as the inauguration of the integrated national project for airport security and protection, one of the projects of the “Development of Aviation Security and Airport Security Infrastructure” program, as it is one of the most important comprehensive security projects at the level of the Kingdom’s airports, and it includes 24 airports, and aims to provide the Kingdom’s airports with the latest integrated security systems electronically.
 
Under the quality of services, GACA launched a program to classify air carriers and airports (in terms of complaints submitted to the authority) with the aim of providing travellers with information about the performance of air carriers and airports in resolving their customers’ complaints so that travellers can choose the appropriate service provider, as well as enhance transparency and demonstrate GACA’s credibility and keenness on passenger complaints and stimulating fair competition between air carriers and airports to develop and improve services. This in addition to evaluate 35,000 elements of the quality of facilities and services provided at 27 airports to study weaknesses and opportunities for improvement, and review and update the service quality standards program of the comprehensive program for the quality of airport services after two years since its launch. Meanwhile, more than half a million data were received, in addition to updating the executive regulations to protect the rights of travellers, the Kingdom is the first Arab country to issue an approved regulation in this field.
 
GACA has also launched an electronic passenger service portal that provides a set of services concerned with improving the passenger experience and upgrade the level of services provided at the Kingdom’s airports through platforms dedicated to complaints and suggestions, receiving inquiries, a published list for travellers, the obligations of the air carrier and travelers, and hearing the consumer’s voice through a service center that works around the clock.
 
GACA did not neglect the category of people with disabilities, as it discussed with the Ministry of Labor and Social Development ways to transform Saudi airports into friendly airports for people with disabilities, and to develop the efforts of the two sectors with regard to serving passengers, especially those with disabilities. This in addition to organizing a workshop to identify the most important challenges facing travellers with disabilities. This will contributes to addressing the shortcomings in travel procedures for persons with disabilities and improve their experience at all stages of travel.
 
 
And in order to achieve the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to localize jobs in the air transport sector, GACA and in cooperation with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in the public and private sectors, launched the initiative to localize jobs in the air transport sector, which aims to localize ten thousand jobs in various disciplines related to the aviation sector, and the initiative has so far achieved %49 of its goal. The initiative comes within the elements of strengthening the aviation sector, the localization of 28 professions specialized in the field of air transport and approval of the distribution of targets according to the executive plan developed for the three years (2021-2022-2023), empowering Saudi youth and giving them the opportunity to work in its various sectors, whether leadership positions or technical, administrative, or operational. GACA believes in the role of Saudi youth in developing and strengthening the aviation sector, which has become a major role in all fields in line with the kingdom’s Vision 2030.
 
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