The Future Aviation Forum 2024 in Riyadh witnessed a total of 47 deals worth $19 billion. These included national air service agreements, aircraft orders, cargo and logistics contracts, advanced air mobility partnerships, human capability development initiatives, information technology solutions, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) agreements.
Saudia Airlines’ announcement
The event’s highlight was Saudia Airlines’ announcement to purchase 105 Airbus A320-Neo and A321-Neo aircraft, setting the stage for an electrifying start to the event. Over 5,000 attendees from 100 countries had assembled in the Saudi capital to witness this historic moment.
Air service agreements and industry insights
The host, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), signed Air Service Agreements with Mozambique, the Kingdom of Eswatini, Cambodia, and Brunei Darussalam. GACA also launched its inaugural State of Aviation report, which revealed that the Saudi aviation sector contributed $53 billion to the country’s economy and supported around 958,000 jobs nationwide.
Read more: Aviation sector contributes $53 billion to Saudi GDP: Report
Ambitious plans for general aviation
Additionally, GACA launched its General Aviation Roadmap, aiming to develop Saudi Arabia’s business jet and private industry tenfold to $2 billion by 2030. This plan includes the creation of six dedicated general aviation airports and nine terminals, which are expected to generate 35,000 new jobs.
Statements from industry leaders
Saleh Al Jasser, Saudi minister of transport and logistics, said Saudi Arabia was enabling huge opportunities for the private sector and creating thousands of jobs for the people of Saudi Arabia.
For his part, GACA President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej noted that the first day of the Future Aviation Forum has been a tremendous success, in terms of commercial deals, policy initiatives, and agreements to elevate global connectivity.
Prominent speakers and attendees
The event featured an impressive lineup of speakers, including Ahmed Al Khateeb, Saudi minister of tourism along with transport ministers from Malaysia, Lithuania, and Tunisia. The event also saw the participation of executives from leading aviation companies and organizations such as Saudia, Riyadh Air, Airbus, Boeing, Wizz Air, and many more.
The Future Aviation Forum 2024, organized by GACA, kicked off on May 20 under the theme “Enhancing the Level of Global Connectivity” and will run until May 22.
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