The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has approved a new national Haj and Umrah charter airline for operation in the Kingdom. Al-Wafeer Air received approval for the move on Sunday, with its chairman Adnan Al-Dabagh receiving the license from CAA chairman Abdullah Rehaimi, paving the way for the carrier to take on its first passengers this Haj season. Al-Wafeer Air, which currently has one aircraft with a further two expected by the end of October, now becomes the Kingdom's fourth national carrier after Saudia, Sama and Nas, and will operate transporting Umrah passengers for eight months of the year and Haj pilgrims for three. Rehaimi also revealed that the CAA is considering further airline business proposals that have come in response to the greater investment flexibility and privileges on offer for new national carriers, but added that no corners would be cut. “The CAA conducts comprehensive feasibility studies of investments and has stringent safety and security standards for potential airlines,” Rehaimi said. “The door is open for investment in national airline companies with the opportunity to apply to be operational in international skies by mid 2010.” The CAA and Boeing Co., the world's largest aircraft manufacturer, are meanwhile expected to hold a meeting in the next few days with representatives from the private sector to introduce the SR2 billion industry to the Kingdom and look at its investment future. New airports will continue to be constructed in the next few years, according to the CAA, with work on the Najran, Al-Oula and Tabuk facilities – to be added to those already finished in Jizan, Taif and Hail - expected to be completed in 18 months.
