GACA Opens Saudi Air Charter Market to Foreigners

Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) is removing cabotage restrictions effective May 1, opening the country’s domestic private aviation market to international on-demand charter operators. The decision will allow foreign charter operators to apply for permission to conduct domestic flights within Saudi Arabia, following specific requirements set by GACA.

Opening of the domestic market comes as part of GACA’s General Aviation Roadmap, which aims to transform the sector into a $2 billion industry by 2030, creating 35,000 jobs. Included in the plan is the development of six dedicated business aviation airports and an additional nine business aviation terminals. In 2024, Saudi Arabia’s business jet market saw a 24% increase in flight volumes, with domestic jet flights rising by 26% and international flights increasing by 15%.

Services groups are already looking at establishing FBOs in Saudi Arabia. “GACA’s decision will have a big impact on business travel in Saudi Arabia, and I know that operators including Flexjet want to enter that market,” Jetex CEO Adel Mardini told AIN.

This move is part of GACA’s broader strategy to enhance competition, attract foreign investment, and offer more flexibility to general aviation operators. In tandem with this regulatory change, GACA is establishing a national general aviation sector development committee that will engage with international and domestic aviation stakeholders to align infrastructure and regulatory planning.

“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,” said GACA general manager for GA Imtiyaz Manzary.