The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has granted FlexJet, a leading company specializing in private aircraft operations, a Foreign Operator Certificate, further strengthening the presence of international private aviation services within the Kingdom.
GACA’s Executive Vice President for Economic Policies and Logistics, Awad Al-Sulami, presented the certificate to FlexJet’s chief operating officer Ben Watts during a ceremony held at GACA’s headquarters in capital city Riyadh. This makes FlexJet the second foreign private aviation company authorized to operate domestic flights within the Kingdom.
The certificate was issued in line with decision taken by General Authority of Civil Aviation on the removal of domestic cabotage restrictions for on-demand charter flights, and to permit foreign private aircraft operators to conduct on-demand flights within the Kingdom, effective May 1, 2025, after the company fully met all requirements and standards outlined in the executive regulations of the Civil Aviation Law.
The Authority stated that the decision will boost competitiveness, attract foreign investment, provide greater flexibility for general aviation operators, and enhance service quality across the Kingdom, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
Issuing the Air Operator Certificate is a key pillar in advancing the aviation program under the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics, which aims to position the aviation sector of Saudi Arabia as the leading sector in the Middle East and to transform the Kingdom into a global logistics hub connecting three continents. Private aviation plays a vital role in supporting business activity and tourism both within the Kingdom and from abroad.
