Riyadh: President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and President of the Executive Council of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization (ACAO), Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, participated in Singapore's High-Level Aviation Week. The event, organized by the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Singapore, gathered transport ministers, senior officials, and industry leaders from the aviation and maritime sectors. The purpose was to exchange insights on current and future challenges and the evolving landscape of global transport.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Al-Duailej addressed a session focusing on the significant challenges facing the global aviation industry, particularly the rapid surge in travel demand. Citing data from Airports Council International (ACI), he emphasized that global passenger numbers are projected to reach 12 billion by 2030. This growth will increase pressure on infrastructure, supply chains, regulatory frameworks, human capital, and sustainability initiatives.
He also discussed regional challenges in the Middle East, such as airspace closures, highlighting the opportunities they present to enhance operational efficiency, expand workforce training, and develop innovative solutions for safety and seamless air traffic flow. Al-Duailej noted that Saudi Arabia has rerouted approximately 41,000 flights recently, reflecting the region's agility, coordination, and commitment to maintaining operational continuity.
Al-Duailej also highlighted the Middle East Green Initiative as a model for collaborative environmental action. He outlined several initiatives under GACA's Civil Aviation Environmental Sustainability Program, supporting both national and international climate goals. These include carbon-neutral airports like Red Sea International Airport, which supplies sustainable aviation fuel to all operating airlines, a project to plant one million trees across airport sites by 2030, comprehensive waste sorting and recycling programs at major airports, and strategic partnerships with global organizations to promote best practices in environmental management.
Additionally, Al-Duailej witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Jeddah Airports Company and Changi Airport Group. This agreement aims to strengthen cooperation in key strategic areas such as enhancing passenger experience, improving operational efficiency, raising safety and security standards, expanding air connectivity, and sharing expertise in airport technologies and automation.