GACA awards charter tenders to Jazeera Airways, BeOnd alliances

GACA has awarded two National Charter Air Carrier tenders to alliances led by Jazeera Airways and BeOnd Aviation, advancing plans to expand charter capacity across Saudi Arabia. The move is part of the Aviation Program under the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which aims to broaden travel options and improve service quality in line with Vision 2030.

The charter sector supports heavy seasonal demand during tourism periods, Hajj and Umrah, public holidays, major sporting events and international conferences. It also provides flexibility for specialized groups and private business travel. GACA said the winning proposals were selected after a full regulatory and commercial review, with both alliances meeting requirements for majority Saudi ownership while bringing in foreign investment.

Awad Alsulami, Executive Vice President for Economic Policies and Logistics Services, said the program is opening the market to new operators, encouraging competition and drawing private investment into the sector. He noted that the tenders will diversify the charter segment and help meet increasing travel needs.

By 2030, the two alliances are expected to operate 21 aircraft, add about six million seats per year, and serve 48 domestic and international destinations. They are also projected to create about 1,000 jobs. The additional capacity is aimed at strengthening services for group travel, tourism operators and business clients.

With the awards issued, both alliances will begin the economic and technical licensing process required before flight operations can start. GACA said it will oversee regulatory compliance, operational standards, financial performance and service quality throughout the approval phase and once services launch.