Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) officially granted an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) to Riyadh Air, authorizing the airline to start commercial flight operations.
The issuance of the operational license confirms the airline’s full compliance with Saudi Arabia’s aviation regulations, international standards and flight safety requirements under the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation. This milestone also follows GACA’s comprehensive audit of the airline’s technical and aircraft systems, operational readiness, equipment and the qualifications of both flight and ground personnel.
“Obtaining the Air Operator Certificate is an important milestone in the company’s journey. It is the result of the efforts of many employees at Riyadh Air. Today, we can proudly say that Riyadh Air is now an airline with an operational license to transport our traveling guests, and we are ready to begin operations later in 2025,” stated Riyadh Air CEO Mr. Tony Douglas.
Riyadh Air to contribute $19.9 billion to Kingdom’s non-oil GDP
The official ceremony took place in the presence of Saleh Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistics and Chairman of the GACA Board, and Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, President of GACA, who presented the certificate to Dougla, affirming the Kingdom’s commitment to developing a world-class aviation sector aligned with the Saudi Aviation Strategy.
“GACA’s issuance of the Air Operator Certificate to Riyadh Air marks a significant milestone within the framework of the Saudi Aviation Strategy. Riyadh Air will enhance competition, offer greater value and choices for travelers, and improve connectivity both domestically and globally,” stated Al-Duailej.
Riyadh Air is projected to fly to more than 100 destinations by 2030, supported by an order of over 132 aircraft. The airline is expected to create more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs and contribute approximately $19.9 billion to the Kingdom’s non-oil GDP. This operational license follows the earlier issuance of an Economic License to Riyadh Air in June 2023.
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Airline to support Saudi Arabia’s record aviation growth
Riyadh Air’s licensing process involved several key phases, including initial consultations, submission of the formal application, review of operational documentation, on-site inspections and final approvals. The process extended over 11 months and was overseen by a team of 10 Saudi aviation safety inspectors and technical experts from GACA, who conducted over 200 hours of test flights to ensure full compliance with the highest operational standards.
The awarding of Riyadh Air’s license comes at a time of record-breaking momentum for Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector. In 2024, the number of passengers rose by 15 percent to exceed 128 million – approximately 25 percent above pre-pandemic levels. The number of flights also increased by 11 percent to reach over 905,000. Additionally, the air connectivity grew by 16 percent, linking the Kingdom to more than 170 destinations around the world.
The air cargo sector also experienced exceptional growth, recording a 34 percent increase to reach 1.2 million tons in total volume for the year.
