Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has officially granted an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) to Riyadh Air, a newly-launched Saudi carrier, authorising the airline to start commercial flight operations.
The issuance of the AOC confirms the Riyadh Air’s full compliance with Saudi Arabia’s aviation regulations, international standards, and flight safety requirements under the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.
This milestone follows GACA’s comprehensive audit of the airline’s technical and aircraft systems, operational readiness, equipment, and the qualifications of both flight and ground personnel.
The certification was officially handed over to Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas by President of GACA Abdulaziz Al Duailej at a ceremony held in the presence of Saleh Al Jasser, the Minister of Transport and Logistics and Chairman of the GACA Board.
Al Duailej said GACA’s issuance of the Air Operator Certificate to Riyadh Air marks a significant milestone within the framework of the Saudi Aviation Strategy.
“Riyadh Air will enhance competition, offer greater value and choices for travelers, and improve connectivity both domestically and globally,” he added.
Riyadh Air is projected to fly to more than 100 destinations by 2030, supported by an order of over 132 aircraft.
The airline is expected to create more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs and contribute approximately $19.9 billion to the Kingdom’s non-oil GDP. This operational license follows the earlier issuance of an Economic License to Riyadh Air in June 2023.
On the milestone, Douglas said: “Obtaining the AOC is an important milestone in the company’s journey. It is the result of the efforts of many employees at Riyadh Air. Today, we can proudly say that Riyadh Air is now an airline with an operational license to transport our traveling guests, and we are ready to begin operations later in 2025.”
According to him, the licensing process involved several key phases, including initial consultations, submission of the formal application, review of operational documentation, on-site inspections, and final approvals.
The process extended over 11 months and was overseen by a dedicated team of 10 Saudi aviation safety inspectors and technical experts from GACA, who conducted over 200 hours of test flights to ensure full compliance with the highest operational standards, he added.
The awarding of Riyadh Air’s License comes amid a period of record-breaking momentum for Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector.
In 2024, the number of passengers rose by 15% to exceed 128 million – approcimately 25% above pre-pandemic levels. The number of flights increased by 11% to reach over 905,000.
Additionally, the air connectivity grew by 16%, linking the kingdom to more than 170 destinations around the world. The air cargo sector also experienced exceptional growth, recording a 34% increase to reach 1.2 million tons in total volume for the year.
The AOC is a foundational pillar of the Kingdom’s aviation strategy, which aims to position Saudi Arabia as the Middle East’s leading aviation hub by 2030.
According to GACA, the strategy includes transforming the Kingdom into a global logistics hub, upporting tourism objectives, and establishing Riyadh as a global gateway and central hub for transportation, trade, and tourism.
Riyadh Air plans to operate flights to over 100 international destinations by 2030, with orders for over 132 aircraft, it added.
