Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Air cleared to...

New airline projected to fly to more than 100 destinations by 2030

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has officially granted an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) to Riyadh Air, authorising the airline to begin commercial operations.

The move confirms 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.

The airline’s latest milestone follows GACA’s audit of its technical and aircraft systems, operational readiness, equipment and the qualifications of flight and ground personnel.

Riyadh Air is projected to fly to more than 100 destinations by 2030, supported by an order of more than 132 aircraft.

The airline is expected to create more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs and contribute approximately US$19.9 billion to Saudi's non-oil GDP.

This operational license follows the issuance of an Economic License to Riyadh Air in June 2023.

"Obtaining the Air Operator Certificate is an important milestone in the company's journey,” said Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas said.

“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 travelling guests, and we are ready to begin operations later in 2025."

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 more than 11 months and was overseen by a team of 10 Saudi aviation safety inspectors and technical experts from GACA, who conducted more than 200 hours of test flights to ensure full compliance with the highest operational standards.

For more information, visit www.riyadhair.com

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