GACA President hails great progress in National Aviation Strategy implementation

Logo of General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA)

The General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej said that the aviation sector has made great progress in implementing the National Aviation Strategy, showcasing advancements in both infrastructure and overall performance of the aviation system.

Al-Duailej said the progress was achieved through several initiatives launched by the authority and huge investments, representing an unprecedented opportunity for investors, suppliers and operators in the global aviation sector. This includes the establishment of Riyadh Airlines, the launch of the master plan for King Salman International Airport in Riyadh to serve nearly 100 million passengers by 2030, and the opening of the Red Sea International Airport, state-owned Saudi Press Agency reported.

He further noted accomplishments, such as the expansion of airports across the Kingdom, the opening of the integrated private logistics zone in Riyadh in October 2022, and the launch of the National Air Connectivity Program to support the tourism and travel sectors in the Kingdom. Additionally, huge investments are being made in energy and advanced air transport, with the participation of Saudia and NEOM, alongside expansion by the Helicopters Co.

The National Aviation Strategy focuses on enabling competition and efficiency to achieve investment and growth by supervising its implementation and following up on the implementation of laws and regulations to achieve safety, security and sustainability for this sector, Al-Duailej stated in his at the Airline Economics Growth Conference on April 22.

He disclosed that a partnership between the public and private sectors will triple the capacity of Abha Airport to 10 million passengers by 2030, as the airport has already received applications from 100 companies interested in participating in this project.