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Saudi Arabia opens domestic private aviation market to international operators

New policy will come into effect on May 1, 2025, allowing foreign charter operators to apply for permission to operate domestic flights
Saudi Arabia opens domestic private aviation market to international operators
GACA announced a national General Aviation Sector Development Committee to enhance Kingdom’s proposition as a general aviation hub

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) recently announced the opening of the domestic private aviation market to international operators by removing cabotage restrictions on 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 will come into effect on May 1, 2025, allowing 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.

General Aviation Sector Development Committee launched

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 in infrastructure planning and regulatory processes to enhance the Kingdom’s general aviation sector value proposition.

Read: Abu Dhabi Airports welcomes record-breaking 29.4 million passengers in 2024

GACA targets aviation sector growth to $2 billion by 2030

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.

“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,” added Manzary.

GACA launched its General Aviation Roadmap 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.

It 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 percent jump in flight volumes in 2024 to 23,612 flights, with domestic jet flights rising 26 percent to 9,206 and international jet flights rising 15 percent to 14,406,” said the authority.

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