GACA opens Saudi Arabia's domestic aviation market to international charter flight operators
The initiatives support GACA's General Aviation Roadmap, which is driving record growth in the business jet segment – up 24% in 2024 alone.
Riyadh – The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia is opening the domestic private aviation market to international operators, by announcing the removal of cabotage restrictions for foreign on-demand charter flights within the Kingdom. The decision is part of GACA's broader strategy to boost the private jet market, supported by the establishment of a sector development committee to engage international and domestic business jet operators.
The new policy, effective May 1, 2025, will allow foreign charter operators to apply for permission to operate domestic flights, following specific requirements set by GACA.
'GACA is unlocking new opportunities for the global aviation industry, by removing restrictions on charter flight businesses to operate domestically in the Kingdom,' said Imtiyaz Manzary, General Manager for General Aviation at GACA.
'This regulatory decision supports GACA's roadmap to establish Saudi Arabia as a general aviation hub, alongside an unprecedented infrastructure program to establish new private airports and terminals across the Kingdom.'
The removal of cabotage restrictions marks an important step in GACA's strategy to enhance competition, attract foreign investment and provide greater flexibility for operators in the general aviation industry.
Alongside this decision, GACA has announced a national General Aviation Sector Development committee to enhance Saudi Arabia's proposition as a general aviation hub, including international private aviation investors, operators, and service providers. The committee will engage on infrastructure planning and regulatory processes, to enhance the Kingdom's general aviation sector value proposition.
GACA's General Aviation Roadmap was launched during the Future Aviation Forum in May 2024, including a comprehensive transformation program to develop the general aviation sector into a $2 billion industry by 2030, supporting 35,000 jobs.
The roadmap aligns infrastructure planning and regulations across the sector, delivering six dedicated business aviation airports and a further nine dedicated business aviation terminals. The Roadmap will also increase the number of business aviation Fixed-Base Operators and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul capacity for business jets.
Saudi Arabia's business jet sector achieved a record 24% jump in flight volumes in 2024 to 23,612 flights, with domestic jet flights rising 26% to 9,206 and international jet flights rising 15% to 14,406.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
04-08-2025
- Zawya
Saudi Arabia sees jump in passenger, flight numbers in H1
Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has reported solid growth in both the passenger and flight numbers for the first half of 2025. Unveiling the H1 data at the 17th meeting of the steering committee for activating the aviation programme, GACA President Abdulaziz Al Duailej said the passenger numbers surged by 7% to over 66 million for the six-month period, while the number of flights rose by 4% to hit 463,800. Also as per the report there was a rise in the number of new destinations for the period from the kingdom which grew by eight to 140. However, the air cargo volumes witnessed a 4% decline which fell to 575,000 tonnes, it stated. Al Duailej called for intensified efforts to improve the sector's overall performance and enhance its competitive value, praising employees for their work in light of ongoing challenges. -TradeArabia News Service Copyright 2025 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
31-07-2025
- Zawya
Over 19mln passengers transported by air during Hajj
The Saudi Arabia General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announced the implementation of its operational plan for the Hajj season, revealing that over 19 million passengers and pilgrims were transported by air through more than 128,000 flights. The extensive operation took place between April 29 and July 10, 2025, and involved the participation of 116 air carriers from around the world, reported SPA. GACA confirmed that more than 1.4 million pilgrims arrived at six major international airports across the Kingdom, utilising 12 dedicated departure terminals. The achievement was made possible through the close coordination of over 25 government, security, and operational entities, supported by a workforce of more than 18,000 male and female employees. Their efforts ensured a seamless and efficient travel experience for the pilgrims, in line with Saudi Arabia's long-standing commitment to facilitating the Hajj journey. These accomplishments were highlighted during a ceremony held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Jeddah, under the patronage of GACA President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej. The event honored the various entities that contributed to the success of the operational plans for the Hajj and Umrah seasons. Among the key services that stood out this year was the 'Passengers with No Bags' initiative, which aimed to streamline the pilgrim journey by managing luggage transport directly from airports to pilgrims' places of residence. The number of beneficiaries surpassed one million, with more than 1.6 million pieces of luggage transported. Additionally, the initiative facilitated the pre-shipment of over 856,000 bottles of Zamzam water. Another milestone was the initiative to connect Hajj flights with the Haramain High Speed Railway, in partnership with Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR). This initiative enabled 253,000 pilgrims to travel comfortably and efficiently between the airports and the holy sites, improving the overall transportation experience and reducing congestion on traditional ground routes. GACA also played a key role in the Ministry of Interior's 'Makkah Route' initiative, one of the flagship programs under the broader 'Pilgrims Experience Program' within the framework of Saudi Vision 2030. GACA designated six international airports to receive pilgrims: King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, Prince Abdulmohsen bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Yanbu, Taif International Airport, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. The latter two served as key hubs for connecting pilgrims' flights. In close coordination with relevant government agencies, the air transport system worked diligently to ensure the highest levels of operational efficiency throughout the Hajj season. The authority participated as a member of the supervisory committee and designated special terminals at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah for the reception of pilgrims arriving through the initiative. Flights were carefully scheduled to avoid overlapping arrivals, contributing to a streamlined entry process. Copyright 2025 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Gulf Business
21-07-2025
- Gulf Business
Saudi Arabia launches $426m airport upgrade in Eastern Province
Image: Saudi Press Agency Eastern Region Governor Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz has inaugurated the new identity and master plan for King Fahd International Airport, along with the master plans for Al-Ahsa and Al-Qaisumah international airports. The announcement was made during a ceremony that also saw the launch of the Dammam Airports Strategy and a comprehensive package of infrastructure and development initiatives. Valued at more than SAR1.6bn ($426m), the package includes 77 projects aimed at improving operational efficiency and enhancing the passenger experience. As part of the launch, the governor announced a new national low-cost airline, Air Arabia, which will be based at King Fahd International Airport. The carrier is expected to serve 24 domestic and 57 international destinations. He also inaugurated newly installed electronic gates to streamline passenger processing at the airport. Read: The event was attended by Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and Chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Saleh Al-Jasser; GACA President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej; and Director General of Passports, Major General Dr. Saleh Al-Murabba. Passenger intake The strategic development plan for King Fahd International Airport aims to accommodate more than 19.3 million passengers annually by 2030, more than double the number recorded in 2022. It also targets a significant expansion in air cargo handling, increasing capacity to over 600,000 tonnes per year—a 1,000 per cent increase—as part of the airport's transformation into a regional logistics hub aligned with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. Planned upgrades include boosting the airport's operational capacity to manage 77 aircraft movements per hour and raising annual passenger handling capacity to 32 million. Additional improvements are planned for general aviation facilities and supporting infrastructure to meet global standards. By the end of 2024, King Fahd International Airport had recorded a 35 per cent increase in passenger traffic compared to 2022.
