RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said that national airlines in the Kingdom have issued compensations totaling US$15 million (SAR58 million) to passengers in the period 2021-2022.
These compensations, according to GACA, were given primarily to deal with issues such as delays, loss of luggage, flight cancellations.
GACA stressed it commitment to uphold passengers’ rights; the present rules are a precursor to the improved regulations set to be enacted on November 20, 2023.
GACA Executive Vice President for Quality and Passenger Experience Abdulaziz Al-Dahmash said that protection of passengers’ rights is pivotal to nurturing a competitive aviation sector that serves both the Kingdom and travelers.
He said that GACA aims to ensure that passengers are well-informed about their rights and can easily navigate the process of obtaining refunds as per the regulations.
GACA also reminded airlines, their representatives and agents of the need to adhere to the new regulations, and reaffirmed its commitment to performing its regulatory and supervisory role in the aviation sector.
GACA aims to safeguard public interest through impartial implementation of the regulations, thus enhancing passenger satisfaction and elevating the travel experience within Saudi Arabia.
The forthcoming regulations are going to be among the most comprehensive rules applied to protect passengers.
They are an integral part of the broader Saudi Aviation Strategy aimed at boosting the sector’s global competitiveness and unlocking the tourism potential.
This also aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 that envisions up to 330 million travelers benefiting annually from air transport services by 2030.
