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Flexjet gains Saudi authorisation for domestic on-demand
Approval allows the US-based operator to conduct private jet flights within the Kingdom following completion of GACA’s full regulatory process.
Ben Watts receives Flexjet’s domestic operating authorisation from Awad bin Attallah Al-Sulami.
Read this story in our March/April 2026 printed issue.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has granted Flexjet authorisation to operate on-demand private jet flights within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Flexjet becomes the second international operator to receive domestic approval following regulatory changes introduced on 1 May 2025, which removed restrictions preventing foreign charter operators from conducting flights between cities within the Kingdom. The first international operator to receive such authorisation was VistaJet, earlier this year.

The certification was formally presented to Ben Watts, chief operating officer at Flexjet EMEA, by Awad bin Attallah Al-Sulami, executive vice president for economic policies and logistics services at GACA, during an official ceremony at GACA’s headquarters in Riyadh. Al-Sulami says: “Authorising Flexjet to operate domestic on-demand private flights demonstrates GACA’s commitment to enabling high-quality aviation services built on the highest international safety standards. This milestone enhances competition, elevates customer experience and supports the wider transformation of the Saudi aviation ecosystem in line with Vision 2030.”

Granting authorisation supports the Aviation Program under the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which aims to position Saudi Arabia as the leading aviation market in the Middle East by 2030.

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