News

the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) held a roundtable meeting of the Saudi-British Business Council in London to explore investment and cooperation opportunities in the civil aviation sector. The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of GACA, and attended by Dr. Rania Leontaridi, Director General of Aviation, Maritime, and Security at the UK Department for Transport, Ms. Jenny Gubbins, Chair of the UK side of the Council, and a delegation of Saudi-British Business Council members, vice presidents, CEOs, officials, and aviation experts.  The meeting discussed ways to strengthen investment ties and boost economic collaboration between Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. It also addressed private sector engagement and strategic investment opportunities across both countries. In his opening remarks, GACA President Mr. Al-Duailej highlighted the National Aviation Strategy and the strong bilateral relationship between the two nations. He noted that total Saudi exports to the UK reached SAR 1.36 billion by Q1 2024, with an annual growth rate of 5.82 percent between 2018 and 2023. He also mentioned that in 2023, passenger traffic between the two countries neared one million, reflecting a 50 percent increase from the previous year.  His Excellency emphasized Saudi Arabia's strategic location linking three continents and its commitment to supporting global aviation through infrastructure development and investment. He highlighted GACA’s efforts to adopt innovations such as Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), smart air traffic management systems, and the integration of AI and digital technologies to improve operations and the passenger experience. The meeting featured a presentation on the National Aviation Strategy, including progress in connecting to 250 destinations, digital transformation, the AAM roadmap, and the Environmental Sustainability Program. The presentation also included an overview of the Saudi airport sector, investment mechanisms, business opportunities, and key enablers and incentives. Saudi Air Navigation Services (SANS) signed a framework agreement with the UK’s NATS to enhance airport capacity. On the sidelines of the meeting, Mr. Al-Duailej met with Dr. Rania Leontaridi to discuss joint cooperation. He also met with Mr. Martin Rolfe, CEO of NATS, and Mr. Mark Burns, CEO of Gulfstream, alongside Saudi aviation sector representatives to review developments in the aviation industry and opportunities for enhancing general aviation in the Kingdom.

The President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, visited on Tuesday the Farnborough International Airshow, accompanied by the vice-presidents and CEOs of companies operating in the civil aviation sector in the Kingdom. The President of GACA and the accompanying delegation toured the exhibition’s pavilions and discovered the aviation industry’s modern technologies, innovations, and solutions, including advanced air mobility, space, and environmental sustainability. GACA signed a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) with Lilium, the leading German company in the manufacture of electric aircraft and the field of regional air transport, to develop and implement the regulatory framework necessary to introduce vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft into the Kingdom beginning from 2026. During the visit, Al-Duailej met with the CEOs of Embraer, a Boeing company Wisk, and Lilium, where aspects of cooperation in the civil aviation industry were reviewed. The President of GACA attended the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation (SACA), Prince Sultan University (PSU) and the British Cranfield University, which aims to develop aviation science research and exchange experiences between specialists.

July 22, 2024 The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued its June report on the performance of domestic and international airports in Saudi Arabia. Airports are assessed based on 11 operational performance standards, which align with strategic objectives to enhance services and ensure a seamless traveler experience at Kingdom airports. The report ranked King Khalid International Airport, King Fahd International Airport, Abha International Airport, Al-Ahsa International Airport, and Qurayyat Airport highly. GACA categorizes airports for performance evaluation based on annual passenger numbers, ensuring a transparent approach. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh secured the top spot in the category of airports with more than 15 million passengers annually, with an 82% compliance rate. Following closely behind was King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah at 64%. In the category of international airports serving 5 to 15 million passengers annually, King Fahd International Airport tied for first place, with a 91% compliance rate. Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport followed with a 82% compliance rate. In the 2 to 5 million annual passenger category, Abha International Airport and King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Airport in Jizan demonstrated a 100% compliance rate. However, Abha International Airport outperformed King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Airport by surpassing higher targets in the specified evaluation criteria. In the category of less than 2 million passengers annually, Al-Ahsa International Airport achieved a 100% compliance rate, outperforming its competitors regarding average waiting time for departing and arriving flights. Qurayyat Airport came first in the domestic airport category, with a 100% compliance rate. It outperformed all competing airports regarding average waiting time for departing and arriving flights. GACA evaluates airport performance through operational performance standards focused on critical passenger touchpoints. These include check-in, security, passport control, customs, baggage claim, and assistance for passengers with reduced mobility (PRM). These metrics ensure a seamless and efficient travel experience for all passengers and are aligned with international best practices.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has signed a memorandum of cooperation with Lilium, the leading German manufacturer of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. The agreement aims to support the development of a regulatory framework for advanced aerial mobility in Saudi Arabia. It was signed on the sidelines of GACA’s participation in the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow, held from July 22–26 at Farnborough Airport in the United Kingdom. This memorandum strengthens GACA’s collaboration with global aviation leaders to enable the adoption of advanced aerial mobility applications in the Kingdom. It aligns with the Authority’s ongoing efforts to establish clear regulations and frameworks that promote growth in this sector while ensuring the highest standards of safety, security, and passenger protection. His Excellency Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of GACA, stated that the agreement reflects GACA’s commitment to supporting innovative and sustainable air mobility solutions, in line with the goals of the National Aviation Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030. He added that through partnerships with leading global aircraft manufacturers, GACA seeks to develop a robust regulatory environment to ensure the safe and efficient operation of VTOL aircraft and advanced air mobility systems. Al-Duailej further emphasized that this collaboration is part of the broader aviation sector strategy and supports initiatives focused on sustainability and environmental preservation. He noted that Saudi Group recently signed a purchase agreement with Lilium for up to 100 electric aircraft—including 50 confirmed and 50 optional units—offering unprecedented connectivity solutions during Hajj and Umrah seasons. These aircraft will also enable faster access for visitors to major sporting, entertainment, and tourism events, and help connect the Kingdom’s mega projects through premium aerial services that meet future expectations. GACA has already launched a comprehensive national roadmap for advanced air mobility, in collaboration with multiple international partners. This roadmap sets the foundation for safe and efficient operations of new air mobility technologies and focuses on integrating VTOL aircraft into the existing aviation infrastructure and broader transportation ecosystem. Klaus Roewe, CEO of Lilium, stated that the agreement confirms Lilium’s commitment to contributing to the development of advanced air mobility regulations in Saudi Arabia. He added, “Our goal is to help shape both the regulatory and operational foundations needed to begin electric aviation operations for our customers in the Kingdom.” Roewe noted that the agreement provides one of the essential building blocks for launching electric flight operations successfully, outlining a clear path for the regulatory steps ahead. This partnership highlights GACA’s ambition to establish Saudi Arabia as a global leader in advanced air mobility solutions. It follows several successful aerial mobility trials, including a historic air taxi demonstration in June 2024 during Hajj season in Makkah. That trial, conducted in collaboration with the Ministries of Transport and Logistics Services, Hajj and Umrah, Interior, and the company Front End Limited, featured the EH216-S electric VTOL drone aircraft. In 2023, another successful air taxi trial was conducted in NEOM using aircraft developed by Volocopter, reinforcing the Kingdom’s commitment to safely integrating these technologies by hosting a wide range of tests and demonstrations in partnership with leading international aircraft manufacturers.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), with a delegation headed by GACA President Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, is scheduled to participate in the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow, which will be held between July 22 and 26 at Farnborough Airport in the UK. The event will feature several important aviation industry activities. The Farnborough International Airshow provides a platform for GACA to showcase the role of the civil aviation sector in the Kingdom and the progress made in achieving the objectives of the National Aviation Strategy. It also aims to build relationships and investment partnerships with the civil aviation system in the UK. The Saudi delegation will review the available investment opportunities and the significant developments led by GACA in the aviation system to enable growth and innovation in the aviation industry. During the Saudi delegation's participation in the event, GACA, in partnership with the Saudi-British Joint Business Council, is planned to organize the Saudi-British Aviation Roundtable Meeting. This event aims to exchange expertise and highlight the investment opportunities offered by the Kingdom in this vital and important sector.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued an index for the classification of air transport service providers and airports based on the number of complaints filed by travelers to the authority in June. GACA stated that the total number of complaints submitted by passengers against air carriers in June amounted to 900. Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) was the least carrier complained about, with 12 complaints per 100,000 passengers. The state-run airline recorded a timely complaint handling rate of 99%. Flynas ranked second, with 14 complaints and a closure rate of 100%. Meanwhile, Flyadeal came third, with 18 complaints per 100,000 passengers, reporting a timely complaint closure rate of 96%. The most frequent complaints for June were about luggage, boarding and ticketing services. For the same month, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah reported the lowest complaints, at a rate of 0.4% per 100,000 passengers, among international airports that receive over six million passengers annually. Only 16 complaints were submitted by travelers, with a timely complaint handling rate of 77%. Abha International Airport was the least airport complained about, at a rate of 1% per 100,000 passengers, among international airports that receive less than six million passengers annually. Only eight complaints were submitted, with a timely complaint handling rate of 100%. For domestic reports, Bisha Airport recorded the lowest complaints per 100,000 passengers with one complaint, or 3%, recording a timely complaint processing rate of 100%.