The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued today the index for the classification of air carriers and airports based on the number of complaints submitted by travellers to the authority during the month of November 2021. GACA revealed the total number of complaints lodged by passengers against air carriers during the month of November, amounted to 317 complaints. The index indicated that Saudi Arabian Airlines came in with the least number of complaints, amounting to five for every 100,000 passengers and a complaint timely handling rate of 97%. Meanwhile, Flyadeal came in second with 12 complaints per 100,000 passengers, with a timely complaint handling rate of 97%, followed by Flynas, which came in third with 14 complaints per 100,000 passengers, and a timely complaints handling rate of 98%. The most common complaints for the month of November was headed by refunding the value of tickets, then canceling flights, then denial of boarding, followed by delayed flights. GACA further explained that the index for rating for airports for the month of November indicated that King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh had the lowest complaints submitted to the authority, at a rate of 1% per 100,000 passengers, according to the index of international airports in which the number of passengers exceeds 6,000,000 passengers annually, with 13 complaints and a timely handling rate of 47%. Meanwhile, Abha International Airport also got the lowest airports in terms of complaints submitted to the authority according to the index of international airports where the number of passengers is less than 6,000,000 passengers annually, with a percentage of 1% per 100,000 passengers with one complaint and a timely complaint handling rate of 100%. Finally, in the indicator for domestic airports, Najran Airport was the lowest airport in terms of complaints submitted to GACA, with a rate of 9% per 100,000 passengers with 5 complaints and a timely complaint handling rate of 100%. GACA explained that the issuance of the monthly report for the classification of air carriers and airports, in terms of complaints submitted to the authority, aims to provide information to travellers about the performance of air carriers and airports in resolving their customers' complaints, enabling travellers to choose the appropriate service provider, in addition to enhancing transparency and demonstrate GACA's credibility and keenness on travelers' complaints. Moreover, it's an effort to stimulate fair competition between air carriers and airports to develop and improve services. It is worth noting that GACA has provided multiple communication channels around the clock to ensure interaction with travellers and airport goers through the following communication channels: the unified call center (8001168888), the (WhatsApp) service via the number 0115253333, social media accounts, e-mail, and the website. GACA receives complaints through those channels that varied between issuing boarding passes, dealing with employees, serving people with disabilities and limited movement, and others. In an effort to support of GACA for its success partners from the airports, the authority has prepared a booklet that includes instructions on how to deal with passenger complaints at airports, and circulated it to airport operators, as it specifies controls and service level agreements that must be adhered to for all types of complaints and inquiries. This in addition to training employees of national airlines and ground service companies who have a direct relationship with the travellers to abide by the executive regulations to protect the rights of customers, through workshops held for them from time to time.
