Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has granted a consortium led by Air Arabia an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) to launch the Kingdom’s new national low-cost carrier, based at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam.
The certificate was
issued in the presence of Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and GACA
Chairman Saleh Al-Jasser, and GACA President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, following
the consortium’s successful completion of regulatory and operational requirements
covering safety, security and operational quality.
The consortium,
comprising Air Arabia Group, Nesma Group and KUN Holding Company, was selected
by GACA in July 2025 as the winning bidder to establish and operate the new
airline, with majority Saudi ownership.
The carrier is
expected to create more than 2,400 direct jobs, contribute to GDP growth and
strengthen tourism and air connectivity in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province,
supporting the objectives of the Kingdom’s aviation programme.
Sulaiman Almuhaimedi, Executive Vice
President of Aviation Safety and Environmental Sustainability at GACA, said
that granting the AOC to the new carrier represents a significant step towards
the Kingdom’s aviation strategy which aims to position Saudi Arabia as a global
logistics hub and an international aviation hub.
He added: “The launch of Air Arabia’s
operations from Dammam will contribute to enhancing competition and improving
performance in the air transport market, while supporting trade and tourism in
the Eastern Province and creating new local employment opportunities.”
He noted that the license was granted after
the airline successfully completed all the required technical and regulatory
stages and procedures to ensure the highest levels of safety and operational
compliance. He further highlighted that this milestone reflects GACA’s role as
the regulator of the air transport industry and its efforts to create an
attractive investment environment.
He also noted that the new carrier will strengthen the Kingdom’s air connectivity by serving 24 domestic and 57 international destinations and is expected to carry approximately 10 million passengers annually by 2030, in line with the goals of the aviation programme. -TradeArabia News Service