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His Excellency the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, met today with the Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya to the Kingdom, Mr. Mohamed Ramadan Ruang, at the Authority's headquarters in Riyadh. During the meeting, they reviewed topics of common interest and discussed ways to enhance areas of cooperation between the two countries in the field of air transport.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), today concluded its participation in the International Civil Aviation Negotiation Event (ICAN 2024). Organized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) from October 21-25 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the event included representatives from over 80 countries and several international organizations. GACA President Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej led the Kingdom's delegation. During ICAN 2024, GACA signed 15 agreements and memoranda of understanding with various countries in the field of air services to enhance bilateral cooperation in air transport and expand the network of connections. More than 30 bilateral meetings were held throughout the event. Among the signed agreements were eight memoranda of understanding and minutes of discussions aimed at improving cooperation between the Kingdom and several participating countries in air transport. These included agreements with Uzbekistan, Suriname, Belarus, Cuba, Türkiye, Liberia, and Brunei Darussalam. A memorandum of understanding was also signed with Mongolia, addressing a draft bilateral agreement on air services. ICAN 2024 featured numerous bilateral meetings where the president of GACA engaged with leaders of civil aviation authorities from around the world. He met with heads and officials of delegations from Seychelles, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Liberia. The discussions covered various topics related to the event and opportunities to strengthen economic ties and collaboration in air transport. The agenda also included a memorandum of discussion with the United States signed by GACA Executive Vice President for Air Transport and International Cooperation Ali bin Mohammed Rajab. Also signed were a draft protocol to amend the Air Services Agreement, a memorandum of understanding in air transport with South Africa, and a memorandum of discussion with Latvia. Furthermore, an Air Services Agreement was signed with Guinea, alongside additional meetings with delegations from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman, the Dominican Republic, the Netherlands, Russia, India, Ethiopia, and Austria, focusing on ways to enhance cooperation in civil aviation The GACA delegation held separate bilateral meetings with Jamaica, Kuwait, and India, resulting in signed minutes of consultations to boost cooperation in air transport. A meeting with representatives from the Republic of Korea was also conducted to discuss various topics and collaboration opportunities in civil aviation. These agreements and memoranda of understanding are designed to support the strategic objectives of the civil aviation sector by building international partnerships that aim to enhance the Kingdom's air connectivity with the world to 250 destinations, transform it into a global logistics platform, and facilitate the transportation of 330 million passengers annually by 2030.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej announced on Monday that Saudi Arabia is solidifying its position as a global leader in search and rescue operations. "Saudi Arabia has proposed the designation of September 10 as "International Search and Rescue Day," he said while revealing a $200,000 donation from the Kingdom to support the initiative. Al-Duailej made these remarks while inaugurating the 71st meeting of the International Satellite Search and Rescue Program (COSPAS-SARSAT), hosted by the Kingdom from October 15 to 24. The event was held for the first time outside the founding countries of the program — US, France, Russia, and Canada. The meeting includes participants from 45 countries and organizations and is chaired by Henrik Smith, the current chairman of the COSPAS-SARSAT Program Council. In his speech, Al-Duailej highlighted Saudi Arabia's pivotal role in global search and rescue efforts since joining the program in 2000. The Kingdom has developed advanced search and rescue capabilities, including the establishment of the Saudi Center for Search and Rescue Missions in Jeddah. The center now serves as a key regional hub, supporting search and rescue operations for seven neighboring countries: Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Syria, and Yemen. Al-Duailej underscored Saudi Arabia's commitment to the Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System and the Autonomous Distress Tracking technology, ensuring full regulatory compliance by aircraft operators and rescue coordination centers. The Kingdom is also adapting to technological advancements, such as drones, to enhance aviation safety and efficiency. The GACA president also announced that Saudi Arabia will host the Central and Southern Regions Meeting in Jeddah from February 24 to 27, 2025, which will offer specialized training workshops to strengthen the capabilities of search and rescue personnel in the region. He called for increased cooperation among all participants to create a safer and more secure future in civil aviation globally. "The Kingdom's active role in search and rescue, particularly through its satellite-based efforts, further establishes it as a significant player on the international stage," he added.

Executive Vice President for Air Transport and International Cooperation at the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Ali bin Mohammed Rajab has highlighted the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's initiatives and vision to establish itself as a central hub for international flights. Rajab made his remarks during a panel discussion titled "Benefits and Challenges of Liberalizing International Air Transport," which was part of the International Civil Aviation Negotiation Event (ICAN 2024) held in Malaysia between October 21 and 25. Rajab noted that the Kingdom has achieved unprecedented milestones, with 87% of the initiatives under the Saudi Vision 2030 realized. These initiatives aim to position the Kingdom as a key international flight hub, with the value of investment opportunities in the aviation sector reaching up to $100 billion. They leverage private sector resources and expertise in alignment with the National Aviation Strategy. He added that the sector saw an unprecedented 26% increase in passenger numbers in 2023, reaching 122 million, driven by the implementation of new economic regulations that enhance competition, ensure transparency, and attract investment. The GACA official also pointed out that the National Aviation Strategy aims to boost air cargo capacity from the current 0.8 million tons to 4.5 million tons by 2030. ICAN 2023, held in Riyadh from December 3 to 7, 2023, witnessed the signing of 521 agreements, memoranda of understanding, and records of discussions, along with 579 bilateral meetings and negotiations on air transport services. Over 100 countries, international organizations, and over 700 civil aviation experts and specialists attended the event. ICAN 2024 serves as a unique platform for global aviation leaders to conduct bilateral, regional, or multilateral negotiations on air transport services, where it attracted over 700 delegates and leaders from the global civil aviation sector on its opening day.

he General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued today, Oct. 22, an index for the classification of air transport service providers and airports based on the number of complaints filed by travelers to the authority in September. GACA stated that the total number of complaints submitted by passengers against airlines in September amounted to 1,273. Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) was the least carrier complained about, with 29 complaints per 100,000 passengers. The state-run airline recorded a timely complaint handling rate of 100%. Flyadeal ranked second, with 29 complaints and a closure rate of 100%. Meanwhile, Flynas came third, with 31 complaints per 100,000 passengers, reporting a timely complaint closure rate of 100%. The most frequent complaints for September were about luggage, boarding services, then ticketing. For the same month, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh reported the lowest complaints, at a rate of 0.3% per 100,000 passengers, among international airports that receive over six million passengers annually. Only 11 complaints were submitted by travelers, with a timely complaint handling rate of 100%. Prince Naif International Airport was the least airport complained about, at a rate of 1% per 100,000 passengers, among international airports that receive less than six million passengers annually. It reported a timely complaint handling rate of 100%. For domestic reports, Arar Airport recorded the lowest complaints per 100,000 passengers with one complaint, or 3%, recording a timely complaint processing rate of 100%.

The Kingdom, represented by the General Authority of Civil Aviation, participated yesterday in the work of the International Air Transport Services Negotiations Conference (ICAN 2024), organized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), during the period October 21-25 in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, with the attendance of more than 80 countries.