logo

GACA grants air operator certificate to Riyadh Air, paving the way for launch of commercial flights

Zawya07-04-2025
Riyadh -- 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.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Air Arabia wins bid to establish a new national low cost carrier in Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Air Arabia wins bid to establish a new national low cost carrier in Dammam, Saudi Arabia

Tourism Breaking News

time6 hours ago

  • Tourism Breaking News

Air Arabia wins bid to establish a new national low cost carrier in Dammam, Saudi Arabia

Post Views: 53 A consortium comprising Air Arabia, Nesma Group, and KUN Holding announces that it has won the General Authority of Civil Aviation's (GACA) competition to establish and operate a new national low-cost airline, which will be based at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. The airline aims to enhance domestic and international air connectivity for the Eastern Province. This win marks the culmination of a shared vision and strategic partnership among the three parties, focused on delivering an efficient operating model that supports the objectives of the Aviation program goals, improves service quality for travelers, and contributes to driving national economic growth. Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, stated: 'We are proud to have been selected by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to launch a new national low-cost airline headquartered in Dammam. We extend our sincere gratitude to the Authority for its trust in us. As a leading low-cost airline operator in the region, this achievement represents a key milestone that reaffirms our commitment to supporting the growth and development of the Kingdom's aviation sector. Through our proven economic model and regional expertise, this new partnership will deliver a reliable and value-driven travel experience for passengers and will contribute to economic growth and job creation in the Eastern Province and beyond.' Mr. Faisal Bin Saleh Al-Turki, President of Nesma Group, and Mr. Mohamed Bin Nabil Hefni, CEO of KUN Holding, added: 'At Nesma and KUN, we are proud to be part of this ambitious national initiative, which is the result of a strategic partnership with Air Arabia Group. This initiative aligns with the impressive developments in the Kingdom's tourism and aviation sectors. Launching a new low-cost carrier from Dammam is not merely an air transport project, but a direct contribution to strengthening the tourism infrastructure and stimulating the local economy of the Eastern Province. This includes creating high-quality jobs, empowering national talent, and supporting aviation-related commercial activities. We believe this project reflects the private sector's role in supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and embodies the spirit of partnership between the public and private sectors to achieve transformative strides in sustainable development. We look forward to this carrier becoming a model of local and international collaboration, strengthening the Kingdom's position as a leading regional and global tourism destination.' The new national low-cost carrier is targeting to operate 24 domestic and 57 international destinations with 45 aircraft by 2030, aiming to serve around 10 million passengers annually from Dammam and the Eastern Province. The project is projected to create over 2,400 direct jobs in the aviation sector and significantly contribute to tourism growth and local economic development in the region.

Air Arabia Alliance to launch new low-cost airline from Dammam
Air Arabia Alliance to launch new low-cost airline from Dammam

Al Etihad

time10 hours ago

  • Al Etihad

Air Arabia Alliance to launch new low-cost airline from Dammam

20 July 2025 18:15 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Saudi Arabia has announced the launch of a new national low-cost airline based at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, aimed at enhancing air connectivity in the Eastern Province and offering more competitive pricing options for General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said in a statement posted on X that a consortium comprising Air Arabia, Kun Investment Holding, and Nesma has won the bid to establish and operate the new carrier. The initiative is part of the Kingdom's broader efforts to position its civil aviation sector as the leading one in the Middle East by Arabia, a leading low-cost airline based in the UAE, brings operational experience in affordable air travel across the region. Kun Investment Holding is a Saudi investment firm focused on developing strategic national projects, while Nesma is a diversified Saudi conglomerate with existing experience in the aviation to GACA, the new airline will operate both domestic and international flights to and from Dammam, with an ambitious plan to serve 24 domestic and 57 international destinations by 2030. The airline is expected to transport up to 10 million passengers annually, create more than 2,400 direct jobs, and maintain a fleet of 45 aircraft. The project aligns with the Kingdom's aviation sector goals, which include enhancing air connectivity for the Eastern Region, fostering a competitive environment with more travel options, and improving the overall quality of passenger services.

UAE's Air Arabia wins bid to operate low-cost 'air alliance' in Saudi Arabia
UAE's Air Arabia wins bid to operate low-cost 'air alliance' in Saudi Arabia

The National

time16 hours ago

  • The National

UAE's Air Arabia wins bid to operate low-cost 'air alliance' in Saudi Arabia

The UAE's Air Arabia has won the bid to operate a new low-cost 'air alliance' in Saudi Arabia to boost air connectivity in the kingdom. The new consortium will operate from King Fahd international airport in Dammam and provide competitive travel options for passengers, the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation said in a social media post on X on Sunday. It will also enhance air connectivity in the eastern region and increase seat capacity. More to follow...

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store