Saudi Arabia to open air space to all carriers that follow overflight authority terms

Saudi Arabia has decided to open its air space for all air carriers that meet the requirements of the overflight authority, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said in a statement on Friday.

The move will “consolidate the Kingdom’s position as a global hub connecting three continents,” the statement clarified. Enabling wider access to this crucial air space also allows for greater international air connectivity.

Saudi Arabia also aims to increase annual air cargo volumes to 4.5 million by 2030 from 900,000 tons in 2019, of which half would be transiting elsewhere, Mohammed Alkhuraisi, head of strategy at the General Authority of Civil Aviation told Reuters in April.