JEDDAH: Tabuk Regional Airport will soon become an international airport after ongoing renovation projects come to an end in two months' time. The airport will be used for flights to and from neighboring countries and also serve the domestic market, according to Abdullah Rehaimi, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), who recently inspected the airport. GACA is working on increasing the contribution of Saudi airports to the economy. The development of the airport into an international facility aims to “maximize the economic role of airports” in accordance with GACA's strategy, Rehaimi said. He said passengers will be provided with upgraded services. “With GACA attracting international air service providers, it is seeking to provide better services to passengers including giving them more options to travel on various airlines. We also aim to encourage fair competition, which is in passengers' interests,” he added. Rehaimi pointed out that GACA has made contacts with a number of airlines to operate international flights. Among these are Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAA), NAS Airlines, Egyptian Airlines and Dubai Airlines. “These companies have shown an interest in conducting international flights to and from the newly modernized airport. All initial approvals have been made,” said Rehaimi. He said that international flights will commence gradually. About 90 percent of the development at Tabuk airport has been completed. The expansion project will cost nearly SR244 million.
