Saudi GACA denies fake news on the resumption of international flights next October
By : Marwa Mahmoud
A false circular indicating that Saudi Arabia will resume international flights in October has been condemned as “absolutely unfounded and fabricated” by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).
Speculations that foreign flights will soon be returning have been circulating on social media in recent weeks without any formal GACA comment.
The authority declined to declare the resumption of international flights and said information circulating was fabricated ,on Tuesday.
In response to the corona virus pandemic, Saudi Arabia suspended international flights from 15 March.
After domestic flights began again on 31 May, reports have been swirling about the return of foreign flights. On Monday, the bogus GACA Circular was posted on various social media sites indicating that flights to and from Saudi Arabia would resume in October. There was a lot of excitement.
The circular, titled ‘No flights until October 2020,’ reads: ‘A staff member of the GACA has confirmed in a recent interview that all international flights to and from the Kingdom will be suspended until the month of October.’ Quoting a GACA official, the circular states that the decision is due to the number of coronavirus cases, this must ‘go down to three digits.’
GACA Authorized Spokesperson Ibrahim bin Abdullah Alrwosa said that the circular “is absolutely unfounded and fabricated.”
He shared a tweet from the Public Relations Department that identified the circular as incorrect.
The civil aviation authority has previously confirmed that there is no clear date for the resumption of international flights, he said.
All international flights remain suspended until further notice is issued.
Nonetheless, exceptions have been made to humanitarian relief and emergency situations, medical evacuation flights and repatriation of displaced people and expatriates wishing to return home.
