Saudi Arabia GACA removes cabotage restrictions on foreign ad hoc charter flights
Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) removed (04-Feb-2025) cabotage restrictions on foreign on-demand charter flights in the country, opening the domestic private aviation market to international operators. The new policy is effective 01-May-2025 and will enable foreign charter operators to apply for permission to operate domestic flights. GACA general manager for general Imtiyaz Manzary stated: "This regulatory decision supports GACA's roadmap to establish Saudi Arabia as a general aviation hub, alongside an unprecedented infrastructure programme to establish new private airports and terminals across the Kingdom". [more - original PR]
Background ✨
Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation aimed to transform the aviation sector with a strategy to drive USD100 billion in investments, including removing license requirements for foreign charter operations, to boost competition and liberalise markets1. The roadmap for general aviation targeted a tenfold increase in the business aviation and private aircraft sector by 2030, with plans for six dedicated airports and nine lounges2.