RIYADH — The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has directed all airlines, including general aviation and private aviation, operating services in the Kingdom's airports to start the necessary procedures for the resumption of the travel of citizens outside the Kingdom and their return to the Kingdom effective from May 17 (Shawwal 5). All the airports in the Kingdom are fully geared up for the operation of services, the authority said in a circular sent to all the airlines. GACA said that this directive is line with the announcement of the Saudi government to allow the travel and return of the immunized citizens. The Ministry of Interior announced on Sunday that Saudi Arabia would open its land, sea and air borders completely from 1:00 a.m. Monday, May 17. GACA stated that citizens who have been permitted to travel include those who received two doses of coronavirus vaccine or those who passed 14 days after taking the first dose of the vaccine. Citizens who have recovered from coronavirus infection will be allowed to travel provided that they have spent less than six months since their infection as confirmed by the data displayed on Tawakkalna App. Citizens under the age of 18 years will also be allowed to travel on the condition that they submit before travel an insurance policy approved by the Saudi Central Bank, covering the risks of COVID-19 outside Saudi Arabia in accordance with the instructions announced by the relevant authorities. These people have to remain in home quarantine for a period of seven days after returning to the Kingdom and a PCR test shall be taken at the end of the quarantine period, while children under the age of eight years are exempted from the PCR test. GACA drew attention to the ministry's directive that the travelers have to comply with all the procedures and restrictions imposed by the respective countries, in order to avoid any difficulties they may face. It also underlined the need to take caution when traveling to high-risk countries, where the disease is spreading at a high rate in accordance with what is announced periodically by the competent authorities. The authority clarified that the airlines must bear the responsibility to educate travelers about the instructions and requirements of the destination countries so that they can travel in a safe and healthy way and to avoid any problems or difficulties that they may face. Meanwhile, GACA President Abdul Aziz Al-Duailj thanked and appreciated the Saudi leadership's keenness to allow Saudi citizens to travel outside the Kingdom in accordance with the health requirements. He hailed the successful efforts made by the government to stem the spread of the coronavirus infection. "GACA has mobilized all its capabilities and exerted efforts to implement the directives of the wise leadership, and to prepare the airports with all their services and facilities to return to what they were. The Authority has taken into account health standards in order to achieve safe travel with making available all the safety means at the airports," he added.
