Riyadh Air secures Air Operator’s Certificate, paving the way for commercial operations
New Saudi carrier Riyadh Air has secured its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Saudi Arabia’s aviation regulator.
The approval paves the way for the airline to begin commercial operations from the end of the year.
“Today, we can proudly say that Riyadh Air is now an airline with an operational license to transport our travelling guests, and we are ready to begin operations later in 2025,” said Tony Douglas, Riyadh Air CEO.
Created by investment funds linked to the Saudi government, Riyadh Air aims to be a global carrier that rivals other regional carriers such as Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad.
The plan is to reach a network with more than 100 destinations by 2030 and a fleet of at least 132 aircraft.
To date, Riyadh Air has ordered 60 Airbus A321neos and 39 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, but has not yet taken delivery of any of them.
The fleet includes a leased 787-9 that was used in the certification campaign.
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