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Saudi Arabia clears Riyadh Air for takeoff

By Pramod Kumar
GACA chairman Saleh Al-Jasser handing the air operator certificate to Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas GACA/X
GACA chairman Saleh Al-Jasser handing the air operator certificate to Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas

Saudi Arabia’s aviation watchdog has granted official permission to Riyadh Air to commence flights to and from airports across the kingdom.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) chairman Saleh Al-Jasser handed the air operator certificate to Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas, state-run SPA news agency reported.

The certificate follows the Public Investment Fund-backed airline’s completion of all regulatory and operational requirements in line with the Civil Aviation Law, especially those related to safety, security and operational quality standards.

Al-Jasser, who is also the transport and logistic services minister, said the air operator certificate to Riyadh Air supports the kingdom’s strategy to become an aviation hub by 2030.

The airline plans to operate flights to more than 100 international destinations by 2030. It has placed orders for more than 132 aircraft and is expected to generate over 200,000 direct and indirect jobs in the aviation sector, contributing an estimated SAR75 billion to the kingdom’s non-oil GDP.

Last month Douglas said that the airline is exploring potential tie-ups with Indian carriers IndiGo and Air India.

Riyadh Air has formed partnerships with airlines including Delta Air Lines, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, China Eastern, Air China and Egypt Air.

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