The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in Saudi Arabia intends to introduce the General Aviation Roadmap at the upcoming Future Aviation Forum 2024.
The forum, which will be held from May 20-22 with the theme “Elevating Global Connectivity,” is under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
The objective of the roadmap is to significantly increase the general aviation sector’s contribution to the GDP. It aims for a tenfold growth, reaching $2 billion by 2030.
The roadmap encompasses the business aircraft sector, including private charter flights and corporate aviation, and aims to support aircraft owners, investors, operators, and service providers.
This roadmap will further enhance the Kingdom’s reputation as a premier destination for business and tourism.
In October 2023, the country revised its national tourism target, aiming to attract 150 million visitors by 2030, an increase from the previously set goal of 100 million.
Read more: Key trends impacting the development of airports in the Middle East: Report
Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, president of GACA, emphasized the significance of the general aviation sector in promoting high-value segments of the Saudi economy, such as tourism, business events, and entertainment.
He highlighted that the General Aviation Roadmap will play a crucial role in advancing the sector within the Kingdom by focusing on infrastructure development, improving legislative regulations, and enhancing market services.
Recent measures to boost general aviation sector
This announcement follows recent measures taken by GACA to bolster the general aviation sector. In October 2023, GACA eliminated restrictions on “empty-leg” flights, simplified economic licenses for air transport operations, and relaxed requirements for airport operators and investors.
The Future Aviation Forum is gearing up to be a global summit, bringing together more than 5,000 aviation leaders from over 100 countries.
Ministers, manufacturers, airline representatives, and airport executives will convene to make important announcements, agreements, and deals. Moreover, Dedicated discussions will delve deeper into this critical segment of the industry.
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