Riyadh, July 27, 2024 – The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) concluded its visit to the United Kingdom, participating in the Farnborough International Airshow 2024, held from July 22 to 26 at Farnborough Airport.
Led by GACA President Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, the delegation showcased investment opportunities enabled by the National Aviation Strategy and highlighted the developments driven by the authority to foster growth and innovation in the aviation sector.
Mr. Al-Duailej and his team toured the airshow, examining the latest technologies and innovations in aviation, including advanced air mobility, space, and sustainability solutions. They also visited Cranfield University to review its aviation research initiatives and the digital air traffic control center equipped with state-of-the-art technologies.
GACA hosted a roundtable with the Saudi-British Business Council to explore investment and cooperation opportunities in civil aviation. The discussions aimed to bolster investment relations between Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom, focusing on economic and investment ties and leveraging private sector opportunities in both countries.
On the sidelines of the airshow, GACA signed a cooperation agreement with Germany’s Lilium, a leader in vertical take-off and landing aircraft (VOTL) manufacturing. This agreement seeks to develop the regulatory framework for advanced air mobility in Saudi Arabia, aligning with GACA’s efforts to establish regulations that promote sector growth while ensuring passenger safety and security.
In another significant move, Saudi Air Navigation Services (SANS) signed a framework agreement with the UK’s air traffic control company NATS to enhance airport capacity. Additionally, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation, Prince Sultan University, and Cranfield University to advance aviation science research and facilitate expertise exchange among specialists.
Flynas, a Saudi low-cost airline, also inked a deal with Airbus to purchase 160 new aircraft, including 30 wide-body A330neo and 130 single-aisle A320 family planes, increasing its total aircraft orders to 280 over seven years.
These agreements and collaborations underscore GACA’s commitment to driving innovation and investment in the aviation sector, in line with Saudi Vision 2030’s goals of economic diversification and development.
