The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has completed its work related to the expansion of King Abdul Aziz International Airport, announced Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense and Aviation, while presiding over the GACA Board of Directors' meeting here Tuesday. He said the project is in the process of being approved by the ministerial committee for submission to the King. The Crown Prince said some facilities of the new airport's infrastructure have been completed, work is in full swing on other infrastructure projects and other infrastructure projects are being offered for public bid. He said cost of these projects is more than SR1.6 billion and added that the GACA has carried out several fundamental development projects in the Kingdom's domestic and international airports and executed major navigation projects. Following the overview, the Board reviewed a study on market conditions of private airlines in the Kingdom and the importance of ensuring security and safety by adhering to operation requirements based in the civil aviation systems. The study also stressed the importance of activating these systems and establishing an effective mechanism to ensure they are applied. The study, which has been conducted by the GACA, requires operators of private airlines to follow rules defining these systems. The study showed that the private-aviation market is making steady progress and is considered to be one of the most important markets in the region due to the strength and size of the Saudi economy. The board also reviewed the Integrated National Project for Airport Security, which is designed to ensure the highest degree of security and protection for airports in the Kingdom by using the latest technology. The GACA Board of Directors also stressed the importance of enforcing the anti-smoking law in the Kingdom's airports and assigned its implementation to the GACA. The board also discussed an ordinance defining sentences for those who commit illegal acts onboard planes. The law punishes those who commit crimes such as attacks against the crew or passengers. Present at the meeting were Assistant Minister of Defense and Civil Aviation Prince Fahd Bin Abdullah Bin Massad, Minister of State Dr. Massad Bin Muhammad Al-Abain and President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation Engineer Abdullah Bin Muhammad Nour Rahimi.
