Saudi Civil Aviation Sector Flown over into Global Leadership Horizons

The Civil Aviation sector, in the Kingdom, is experiencing unlimited interest and support from the Saudi leadership, as it is the major drive engine of the national economy, social and economic development and an influence on various other sectors, in addition to its main contributions to the Kingdom’s vision 2030.

This support and attention were reflected in the results of performance and system development, in general, as the Kingdom became the most competitive, in the world.

It also contributed to advancing the wheel of economic growth and strengthening the Kingdom’s link with other countries, in the world, in record time.

Based on this, the sector achieved during the 2021, a series of unprecedented achievements in record time that flew into the horizons of global leadership and contributed to the development of the air transport industry, locally, regionally and internationally, most notably the announcement by HRH Crown Prince and the Secretary of the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services, which was preceded by the Cabinet’s approval of the strategy of the civil aviation sector, which will double the capacity to more than 300 million passengers, annually, from more than 250 destinations, in the world by 2030, in addition to raising the cargo capacity to 4.5 million tons of goods by 2030.

In one year, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) completed several projects, as it launched a package of services, including the inauguration of the new Arar airport, in addition to the development and expansion of several Saudi airports, and worked as an investment on the institutional transformation project for airports to enhance the governance of the air transport sector, attract more local and international investments, and expand partnership with the private sector, enabling business growth, supporting integration in the transportation and logistics system, and enhancing the quality of services for customers and travelers.

Internationally, the Kingdom won the membership of the Executive Council of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization. The Kingdom also obtained membership in all five technical committees: (Air Transport Committee, Air Safety Committee, Aviation Security Committee, Air Navigation Committee, and Environment Committee), in addition to the Kingdom winning the presidency of the Aviation Security Committee, of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization, with the unanimity of the member states, so that the Kingdom continues to chair the Aviation Security Committee for the second term, in a row, which clearly reflects the prestigious international position that the Kingdom enjoys in international forums related to civil aviation.

The Kingdom also signed an agreement to establish a regional HQ for the International Air Transport Association (IATA), as that would fall in line with the Kingdom’s interest and support for regional and international civil aviation organizations, and to provide them with various forms of support, due to their role in contributing to the development of the field of air transport

During the recovery from the pandemic crisis, the GACA, in cooperation with the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence, linked the health passport on the “Tawakulna” application of “Sdaya” with the International Air Transport Association “IATA” that includes aspects related to facilitating travel procedures, according to the best International practices, and acceptance of the Health Passport platform as an initiative to digitize health certificates from trusted sources and accredited laboratories through cooperation with airlines.

The Kingdom obtained international recognition, with three airports, in the Kingdom for the second year, in a row, ranking among the top 100 airports, in the world, according to the assessment of Skytrax, and the classification of 4 Saudi airports among the top 10 improved airports, in the world, according to the same report, followed by the Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation, winning membership and a seat, in the board, the global aviation training of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and its obtaining the accreditation of the Airports Council International (ACI-ATI) as the second training center, in the world after the Munich Airport Training Center, in Germany, and the renewal of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), accreditation of the Saudi Academy as an approved training center of the International Airport (ATC), and the Saudi Air Navigation company winning the Technical Excellence Award for the innovation of the MMS Navigational Maintenance Management System, and the 5th place, globally in the Safety Award, in addition to the Executive’s company in the management and operation of executive lounges, at the Kingdom’s airports, winning first place in the gold classification as the best experience of international clients, at the International Business Excellence Awards Ceremony organized by the Global Awards International, among many Participating local and international companies

In the field of international training and program support, in accordance with the highest international standards; the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) granted an international training license to four Saudi trainers from the General Civil Aviation Authority, bringing several internationally accredited Saudi trainers to 7 in the field of aviation security, which reflects the ability of qualified Saudi cadres capable of their specializations, in exchanging experiences, and highlights the role of the authority, as an active partner, in the civil aviation industry, at the international level.