Riyadh Air Receives Air Operator Certificate

Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's new national airline, has received the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the General Authority of Civil Aviation. The AOC officially authorises the new national carrier to commence scheduled flights to and from airports across Saudi Arabia. The certificate was issued after the airline met all regulatory and operational requirements in accordance with the executive regulations of the Civil Aviation Law, particularly those related to safety, security, and operational quality standards.

Riyadh Air is reportedly on its way to commence operations later this year. By 2030, the airline intends to operate flights to over 100 international destinations. Riyadh Air has also 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. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, said that the issuance of the AOC to Riyadh Air represents a foundational pillar of the country's aviation strategy, which aims to place Saudi Arabia as the Middle East’s leading aviation hub by 2030.