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The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announced that it has granted VistaJet, a leading company specializing in private aviation, the Foreign Operator Certificate, making it the first foreign private aviation company to receive this certification to operate domestic flights within the Kingdom.

The issuance of this certificate comes as part of GACA’s decision to allow foreign operators of private aircraft to conduct on demand flights within the Kingdom starting from May 1, 2025, after meeting all requirements and standards set out in the Civil Aviation Law’s executive regulations.

Awad bin Attallah Al Sulami, Executive Vice President for Economic Policies and Logistics Services at GACA, explained that granting the Air Operator Certificate to VistaJet as the first foreign operator of private aircraft for domestic operations in the Kingdom marks an important step towards advancing private aviation services. He noted that this move will foster greater competition, stimulate sector growth, and enhance service quality.

The issuance of the Air Operator Certificate is also one of the key pillars in achieving the objectives of the Aviation Program under the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which aims to position the Kingdom’s aviation sector as the leading player in the Middle East by 2030 and to transform the Kingdom into a global logistics hub connecting three continents. Private aviation, he stressed, represents a vital enabler for both business and tourism within and beyond the Kingdom.

VistaJet will commence its operations in the Kingdom as a strategic step that reflects the Kingdom’s vision of attracting high value investments and strengthening its position in the global aviation industry. This milestone underscores GACA’s commitment to applying the highest safety standards while enhancing the private aviation experience and ensuring service quality. It also aligns with GACA’s ongoing efforts to provide an attractive investment environment and extend full support to enable civil aviation activities, contributing to the goals of the Aviation Program and reinforcing GACA’s role as the regulator of the air transport industry in the Kingdom. By building strong partnerships with relevant stakeholders, GACA seeks to further empower the sector, raise operational efficiency, and support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.