The General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) on Tuesday signed an agreement with Naji and DLA Piper Middle East to implement regulations for the protection of consumers. The agreement includes provisions and rules for determining the relationship between all parties dealing in Saudi air space. DLA Piper became one of the largest legal service providers in the world in 2005 through a merger of unprecedented scope in the legal sector. While large in scale, the merger strategy was simple – to create a global organization capable of taking care of the most important legal needs of clients wherever they do business. The agreement would enable passengers whose flights have been delayed to claim compensation from airliners. The bylaw defines the relationship of all the parties involved in the process comprising passengers, airline companies and land handling services firms. The bylaw includes a mechanism for resolving disputes arising between any of the three parties. Naseef said the GACA would provide the public with a toll free telephone number to receive complaints around the clock. This agreement includes the provisions and rules for determining the relationship between all parties dealing in the Saudi air transport market where the agreement's laws play a very important role in resolving any differences that may arise between the parties. “We are aiming to establish controls and standards to determine the terms of the contracts of low cost airlines for the benefit of the traveler and to ensure that a system is in place which will protect the rights of all dealers in the area of civil aviation,” said Abdullah Mohammed Noor Rehaimy, President of the General Authority for Civil Aviation. The agreement takes into consideration all domestic and international regulations in order to ensure that these rules are not in conflict. “We will have a special mechanism for the implementation and application of what is required by the regulations, and we will propose appropriate penalties and sanctions if we notice any violations,” said Ayman Bin Bakr Naseef, General Supervisor of the Central Management of GACA. “Because of such rules and regulations, GACA can take action on the issues involved in any dispute arising between the contracting parties,” he added.
