The assistant to the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) president for airports, Eng. Tareq Alabdaljabar said in a news briefing that GACA, in the framework of the increased growth in air travel, has adopted the summer schedule for international flights at the Kingdom's regional airports. The total number of flights have reached 1,010 flights per week (both arrival and departing flights). Those regional airports connect with many international destinations in each of the following countries (UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey and Kuwait). He further said GACA, under the instructions of the Minister of Transport Suliman Alhamdan, is working at an accelerated pace and according to a studied plans to maximize the economic value of airports and take advantage of all the possibilities of being self-reliant. For GACA to rely on its financial resources and work according to a commercial standards, at the same token provide options convenient and easy for passengers, by allowing them to fly to neighboring countries without any hindrance and in a comfortable manner. Alabdaljabar added that the growth in international flights from the Kingdom's airports reflects the keenness of airliners to conducts its flight from regional airports in the light of the facilities provided by GACA to them. He pointed out that all airports have completed all of its equipment checks and readiness plans in cooperation with the relevant government's agencies. They are to greet arriving and departing international flights in accordance with the new schedule, and the departure terminal have been readied accordingly. He explained that the summer schedule includes the operation of 272 weekly flights from Prince Naif Bin Abdulaziz airport in Alqassim, which includes 28 flights to Doha, 56 flights to Dubai, 14 to Manama, 16 to Istanbul, two flights to Tarabzon, six flights to Alexandria, 10 flights to each of Sharm El Sheikh, Assiut, Sohag, 112 to Cairo and 28 flights to Sharjah. It also included the adoption of128 weekly flights in Abha Regional Airport at a rate of 52 flights to Cairo, 42 flights to Dubai, 28 to Doha, and 14 flights to Sharjah. In the meantime, Prince Abdul Mohsen Bin Abdulaziz in Yanbu will operate 206 weekly flights at a rate of 114 to Cairo, 26 flights to Istanbul, eight flights to Alexandria, eight flights to Sohaj, 14 flights to Doha, 22 flights to Dubai and Sharjah and two flights to Trabzon. While in Taif International Airport, 162 weekly flights have been adopted, where 76 flights will be operating to Cairo, 28 flights to Dubai, 28 flights to Doha, 16 flights to Kuwait, six flights to Sharjah and two flights to Tarbzon. And at Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, 70 flights have been approved for operation, 34 of which to Cairo, 14 to Dubai, six to Oman, six to Al Sharjah, eight flights to Doha and two flights to Tarbzon. At the same token, 76 weekly flights have been approved for operation at Al Ahsa Regional Airport, 14 of which to Dubai and Sharjah, 22 flights to Doha, 20 flights to Cairo, two flights to Sohaj and four flights to Istanbul. Thirty-two international flights have been adopted for operation from Hail Regional Airport, 10 of which to Cairo, 14 to Dubai, six to Sharjah and two flights to Tarbzon. And at King Abdullah Airport in Jazan, 34 flights have been approved for operation, 12 of which to Cairo, 14 to Sharjah, eight to Dubai. At Aljouf Airport, 30 weekly flights has been scheduled, 16 of which to Cairo, eight to Dubai and six flights to Sharjah. GACA has achieved tangible success in operating flights from its 10 regional airports. They provide direct flights to each of the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Yemen and Turkey. These have contributed in achieving a clear growth in passenger and flight traffic at domestic airports, and have contributed to a qualitative levels of services. — SG
