Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, inaugurated today the Fourth Meeting of the Regional Aviation Security and Facilitation Group for the Middle East. The meeting is hosted by the General Authority of Civil Aviation in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Middle East Regional Office.
ICAO
The meeting, which will be held from October 14 to 15, 2024 in Riyadh under the auspices of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), aims to enhance cooperation between member states and exchange experiences in the field of aviation security and travel facilities.
The President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation stated that the Kingdom is committed to meeting ICAO international standards. It has achieved notable success, including launching the secure Saudi electronic passport and joining the Public Key Directory (PKD) to enhance the verification of travel documents. The Kingdom also uses advanced strategies, like big data and AI, to improve inspections and reduce wait times.
He said: “We are proud that the Kingdom has achieved a compliance rate of 94.4% in the ICAO aviation security audit report, including 100% in the implementation of facilitation standards in Annex 9 of the Chicago Convention. Thanks to these achievements, the Kingdom has ranked seventh among G20 countries in the field of aviation security.”
His Excellency explained that the Kingdom has introduced the “Unified Air Travel Requirements” initiative. This initiative aims to create a global health framework to enhance the aviation sector’s resilience during future health crises. It also focuses on improving the travel experience, standardizing health information protocols, and strengthening traveler health and safety. The Kingdom aims to support international efforts by proactively bolstering the aviation sector’s crisis resilience.
Global Air Traffic
He noted that the international air transport sector is experiencing rapid growth in passenger traffic. Global air traffic is expected to reach 12.4 billion passengers by 2050, a 174% increase compared to 2019, according to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Additionally, this growth necessitates strengthening facilitation programs for a smooth travel experience. He emphasized the need to simplify procedures, improve infrastructure, and adopt innovative technologies to accommodate the rising number of passengers while maintaining security and safety standards.
In conclusion, the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation called for improved international cooperation and coordination among all countries, particularly in the Middle East. He also emphasized that today’s challenges and threats require united efforts and the exchange of expertise to ensure safe and sustainable travel.
Finally, the Regional Director of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for the Middle East, Engineer Mohammed Abu Bakr Al-Fari’, stated that the region has a sustainability rate in aviation security that exceeds the global average. The Middle East recorded a 75.92% sustainability rate, surpassing the global average of 72.36%, and he described this result as a “model to be emulated” internationally.
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