Kingdom keen to ensure competitive aviation services

30/08/2016 05:11 AST

Forty-five countries are taking part in the three-day Global Ministerial Aviation Summit in Riyadh. The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) is organizing the event.

“The Kingdom realizes close cooperation among countries is the best way to ensure air travel security,” said Capt. Abdulhakim Al-Bader, deputy to GACA president for safety, security and transport, as he welcomed the guests.

He also thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for supporting the event. Capt. Al-Bader said that the privatization process of the 27 Saudi airports was under way. The Kingdom aims to ensure fair competition in aviation services, he said. He also disclosed plans for a fifth international airport to be established in Taif to meet increasing demand. “The envisioned international airport in Taif will be in addition to the existing facilities in Riyadh, Dammam , Jeddah and Madinah,” he said.

One of the objectives of the summit is to eliminate the dangers threatening air travel and this could be achieved or minimized by exchange of information, said the official. Saudi Arabia is collaborating with all pertinent agencies in the region as well as in other countries to ensure safe traveling by air for everyone.

“The recommendations to be made during this three-day summit will contribute in no uncertain terms to the improvement of aviation services all over the world,” he said.

Datuk Aziz Kaprawi, Malaysian deputy transport minister, said that the summit is important for his country in particular in view of tragic aviation accidents that have happened in the past. “We are thankful to Saudi Arabia for the opportunity to participate in this summit,” he said. “While we’ll be sharing our own aviation experiences, we’ll also gain something to improve our own air travel industry,” he added.

Arab News