Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has removed cabotage restrictions on charter flight operations, which will allow international operators to fly within Saudi Arabia.
Since an initial announcement of the cabotage removal in February, GACA stated that it has received several applications from international and regional carriers, which have expressed interest in operating within the Saudi market.
“We believe this step will unlock huge potential for operators and passengers alike,” said Imtiyaz Manzary, general manager for General Aviation at GACA.
This policy change, which was first declared in May 2024, outlines a comprehensive plan to develop the country’s private aviation sector into a $2bn industry by 2030.
The policy change came into force on May 1, 2025.