Delta Air Lines Receives Saudi Foreign Air Operator Certificate Ahead of Atlanta–Riyadh Launch
The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has issued a foreign air operator certificate to U.S. carrier Delta Air Lines under Part 129 of the aviation safety executive regulations, clearing the way for the airline to begin scheduled direct services between Atlanta and Riyadh.
The move follows a cooperation agreement signed on Wednesday between the Air Connectivity Programme and Delta Air Lines on the sidelines of the World Travel Market (WTM), aimed at strengthening direct air links between Saudi Arabia and the United States and expanding the Kingdom’s network of international destinations.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the agreement is intended to facilitate the launch of nonstop flights between Atlanta and Riyadh, improving access to the Kingdom from the U.S. market and broadening travel options for visitors and passengers between the two countries.
The new route is expected to add more than 85,000 seats annually in both directions between Atlanta and Riyadh, operated with Airbus A350 aircraft. The additional capacity is set to boost travel and tourism flows between the Kingdom and the United States.
GACA said the certificate issuance aligns with its efforts to enhance the Kingdom’s international air connectivity and enable global carriers to enter the Saudi market. The step supports the aviation sector’s competitiveness, expands Saudi Arabia’s air links with international markets and destinations, and promotes tourism, business and investment in line with the National Aviation Programme and Saudi Vision 2030.
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