Riyadh Air granted GACA operator certificate ahead of starting operations

Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier Riyadh Air has been granted the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) by the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).

The move paves the way for the airline’s operations to start later this year.

The certificate was issued after the airline met all regulatory requirements and safety standards, GACA said on Sunday.

The decision to establish Riyadh Air was announced by the Kingdom’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) in March 2023.

Riyadh Air will be a PIF-owned company, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The new carrier will be chaired by Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of PIF. The airline’s senior management will include Saudi and international expertise.

Tony Douglas, who brings more than 40 years of experience in the aviation, transportation and logistics industries, has been appointed CEO. Douglas led UAE-based airline Etihad between January 2018 and October 2022.

Riyadh Air fleet features 60 Airbus A321neo aircraft and 39 confirmed Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners with 33 more to follow.