The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) intends to hand over a national carrier license to the Saudi Gulf Aviation Company in the near future, the company announced, adding that it plans to begin its domestic flights from King Fahd International Airport (KFIA) in Dammam.
This comes after the company completed all the necessary conditions and requirements for air operator certificate (AOC) as required by the civil aviation regulations in the Kingdom and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Capt. Abdulhakim Albadur, assistant to the GACA president for security, safety and air Transport, explained that GACA granted the license to the company after they passed all the requirements and conditions needed for obtaining the (AOC), the license will be handed over in an official ceremony specially prepared for this event on June 22, and in the presence of the minister of transport and the GACA CEO.
He added that GACA worked hand in hand with the company to meet all the needed conditions and requirement for granting such license, which is closely related to passenger safety as also to ensure the readiness of the company’s fleet and the expertise of their flying crew and their capabilities. The solid state of the company was taken into consideration to ensure continuity in its work as an accredited national carrier. He added that among the requirements and the conditions for granting the license is the existence of air operation center, a well-trained, highly qualified crew and the availability of the company’s future plans. 
Also, one of the requirements is the availability of a well advanced booking system, a system for crew schedule, and aircraft operating manuals. He mentioned that the company had to pass a field test conducted by GACA to make certain of the professionalism of their crew in dealing with emergency and humanitarian cases.
GACA presented many advantages to attract qualified airliners and bring them into the Saudi market; at the same time certain conditions and requirements were put in place to ensure the airliners continuity in the market and to ensure the safety of passengers.

Source: Arab News