The General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) will start imposing financial fines on aviation companies, their employees and airport staff committing violations on airport premises, a senior official announced here Tuesday. Khaled Al-Khaibari, spokesman of GACA, said the proposed decision aims at maintaining security at the airport and ensuring the safety of passengers. The spokesman acknowledged that serious violations were taking place on airport premises, but were either ignored or taken lightly by the authorities. “Henceforth these violations will not be tolerated and action will be taken and penalties imposed against violating companies and individuals,” said Al-Khaibari. GACA, he said, has already issued a list of activities that may be construed as violations and the resultant fines to aviation companies and airport staff. “We will impose fines on violators of the companies that provide ground services for aircraft and passengers. For them the fine will be SR500.” Companies or people who enter banned areas inside the airport will be forced to hand over their security cards to airport management. “The cards are returnable only when the individuals successfully undergo a training course in airport rules and regulations,” the official said. Irresponsible drivers who cause accidents on airport premises or who fail to follow driving instructions will be fined SR1,500 and their licenses will be forfeited, the official said. Employees of the airport and aviation companies found smoking on the premises will be fined SR400 with the fine doubled for repeat violations. If the violation is repeated for the third time, the employee will be referred to an investigation committee, Al-Khaibari added. GACA will revoke the licenses of the ground handling company if they are found to be negligent and endangering the safety of passengers, said Al-Khaibari. To make aviation companies, their employees, and airport workers aware of the new list of violations, GACA plans to hold several workshops at 23 airports in the Kingdom, the official said.
