Prime Highlights:
- VistaJet becomes the first foreign private jet operator approved to operate domestic flights in Saudi Arabia, marking a milestone in the Kingdom’s aviation sector.
- The company plans to hire local experts and invest in the Kingdom, supporting growth and employment in Saudi Arabia’s aviation industry.
Key Facts:
- The approval follows the removal of restrictive regulations on May 1, part of Saudi Arabia’s broader plan to modernize aviation and attract global investment under Vision 2030.
- GACA’s General Aviation Roadmap aims to position Saudi Arabia as a leading aviation hub in the Middle East by 2030.
Key Background:
Saudi Arabia has officially authorized Malta-based VistaJet to operate domestic routes within the Kingdom, marking a historic step in the liberalization of its general aviation sector. This approval comes from regulators after they had previously prevented international charter operators from providing services in the domestic market due to longstanding cabotage restrictions. It is believed that the policy shift would increase the competition, service standards, and the growth of the private aviation market.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) made the announcement after the guidelines that halted leisure travel were lifted on May 1, little more than three and a half months ago. GACA said this step is part of wider efforts to modernize the aviation sector, attract international investment, and strengthen Saudi Arabia’s competitiveness as part of the Vision 2030 plan.
Awad Al-Sulami, executive vice president, noted that the decision is expected to increase competition, drive growth in the sector, and improve the quality of services for private aviation customers across the Kingdom and the wider region.
The approval, however, was termed by VistaJet, which operates under a Maltese air operator certificate and is one of the constituents of Vista Global Holding that is based in Dubai, as a significant milestone in the aviation industry. Mazen Obaid, VistaJet’s Middle East president, said the company is pleased to work with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and GACA.
Obaid, a Saudi national, expressed pride in the development and highlighted that VistaJet will hire local experts and invest in the Kingdom. He said the company is keen to create local jobs and play an active role in growing Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector.
In the presence of VistaJet in the local market, Saudi Arabia provides evidence that it is ready to allow international principals to access the private aviation industry, boost its competitiveness, and foreign investment in the industry, and remain a key player in the regional aviation market.
