Riyadh Air has officially secured its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), allowing the airline to begin commercial operations. This certification confirms the airline’s full compliance with Saudi and international aviation regulations, including safety standards under the Chicago Convention. The approval follows a thorough GACA audit of the airline’s technical systems, aircraft, operational readiness, and staff qualifications.
Riyadh Air to Launch First Flights with Operational License
Riyadh Air is expected to fly internationally to more than 100 destinations by 2030. This goal is strengthened by an order of over 132 aircraft, with a fleet compiled of Airbus A321neos and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The airline is projected to generate over 200,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities while adding around $19.9 billion to the Kingdom’s non-oil GDP. The license is granted at a time of significant growth in aviation for the Kingdom, with passenger numbers experiencing a 15% increase in commercial flights and a 34% increase in cargo traffic in 2024. The operational license follows the earlier issuance of an Economic license to Riyadh Air in June 2023.
Riyadh Air CEO, Tony Douglas, commented on the milestone saying:
Obtaining the Air Operator Certificate 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.
The licensing procedure is comprised of multiple key stages, including:
- Initial consultations
- Submission of the formal application
- Review of operational documentation
- On-site inspections
- Final approvals
Spanning 11 months, the process was managed by a team of 10 Saudi aviation inspectors and GACA’s technical specialists, who carried out more than 200 hours of test flights to verify adherence to the strictest operational criteria.
Who are Riyadh Air?
Riyadh Air was founded in 2023 with the goal of transforming Saudi Arabia’s aviation landscape by providing efficient, high-quality air travel services. The airline is set to operate domestic and international routes, connecting major global cities with Riyadh, and is focused on leveraging cutting-edge technology and sustainable practices in its operations.
The airline strives to be unique in the aviation field and assures that they set themselves apart from competitors, their new F.R.E.S.H perception of travel reinforces this by focusing on the digital-first details of travel.
- F: Forward-thinking
- R: Reliable
- E: Empowering
- S: Standards-driven
- H: Hospitable
With these goals in mind, Riyadh Air is committed to offering customers the best-in-class services that they can, with luxurious and transformative travel experiences with hopes of leaving a lasting impact.
Tony Douglas, Riyadh Air CEO, released a statement saying:
“Riyadh Air will be a digitally native airline, driven by a pioneering spirit with an obsessive focus on attention to detail and innovation at its heart. We aim to permanently transcend our guests’ perceptions and experiences of flying in the modern world.”
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