RIYADH — The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and Matarat Holding Company, announced Wednesday the completion of the institutional transformation of 25 of the Kingdom’s airports, and the launch of (Jeddah Airports Company) and the (2nd Assembly Company).

The launch was held in a ceremony held by the Matarat Company, an affiliate of GACA , at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in the capital city of Riyadh, under the patronage of Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Eng. Saleh Bin Nasser Al-Jasser in the presence of a number of officials.

The announcement of the institutional transformation of airports and assigning their operation to the private sector, comes in implementation of the royal decree to separate the legislative aspect from the operational one.

It also reflects the practical steps applied for one of the objectives of the civil aviation sector strategy approved by the Council of Ministers to develop Saudi airports, and raise their operational efficiency, to provide the best and finest services to the passengers.

Furthermore, it would help transform the Kingdom’s airports into world-leading airports, and create promising investment opportunities that will contribute to advancing the national economy and promote the Kingdom’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Eng. Al-Jasser, in a speech on this occasion, highlighted the importance of the institutional transformation of the Kingdom’s airports, as an important step in supporting the plans of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services, and the civil aviation sector, to advance the Kingdom’s airports and enhance their role in supporting the national economy.

Eng. Al-Jasser praised the national strategy for transport and logistics, announced by Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy prime minister, chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Transport and Logistics Services.

This move is considered a qualitative jump and a major leap in the sector’s march, to make the Kingdom a global logistics center, linking the three continents, and to acquire the 5th rank in the world, in airports transit traffic, and to reach the 10th rank in the world in the index of logistics services.

The Advisor to GACA President for Governance and Executive Projects Eng. Sulaiman Bin Ahmed Al-Bassam, said in a speech delivered on behalf of President of GACA, Abdulaziz Bin Abdullah Al-Duailej: “The launch of the two companies (Jeddah airports) and (Cluster 2 Company), comes within the framework of the Authority’s outstanding efforts to improve airport services in the Kingdom, through the “MATARAT Holding” and affiliated companies, to manage and operate Saudi airports in a modern and developed manner, as airports are a cornerstone of the air transport industry and play a vital role in the field of development.”

He went on to say: “This important step aims to increase the rate of competitiveness and productivity between airports, improve financial returns, and raise the operational efficiency of Saudi airports.

“This in addition to raising the capacity of the Kingdom’s airports to more than 330 million passengers per year, and to increase the capacity of air cargo to 4.5 million tons per annum, and achieve the 5th rank — globally — in air connectivity for passengers across 250 global destinations.

Eng. Mohammed Al-Mowkley, CEO of Matarat Holding, said: “The establishment of (Jeddah Airports) comes as part of the assets transfer and institutional transformation program for the Kingdoms’ airports, to assume responsibility for operating and managing King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, equipping it with the latest specifications and the highest international standards, and enhancing its role to be at the forefront of the best and leading regional and international airports.

He added: “Jeddah Airports, will work on developing King Abdulaziz International Airport, to become a diversified economic gateway, and operate it with the state-of-the-art equipment and advanced services, with a new and innovative modern concept, to enhance passengers’ experience, to be an icon interface for visitors to the Kingdom, and an important global hub, through its connection to the international airports network.

It is worth noting that the “Airports Cluster 2 Company”, will manage and operate 22 of the Kingdom’s airports, to provide the best and finest services to passengers, develop these airports and increase their role in supporting the national economy, by providing the best practices adopted by international airports, enhancing their competitiveness and improving the quality of services. This in order to enrich passengers’ experience, improve the performance of airports, and bring them to the best international levels. — SPA