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GACA Vice President: New Saudi Air Carrier to Be Launched Soon

Executive Vice President for Economic Policies and Logistics Services at GACA Awad Al-Sulami. (Photo: Turki Al-Agili)
Executive Vice President for Economic Policies and Logistics Services at GACA Awad Al-Sulami. (Photo: Turki Al-Agili)
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GACA Vice President: New Saudi Air Carrier to Be Launched Soon

Executive Vice President for Economic Policies and Logistics Services at GACA Awad Al-Sulami. (Photo: Turki Al-Agili)
Executive Vice President for Economic Policies and Logistics Services at GACA Awad Al-Sulami. (Photo: Turki Al-Agili)

Saudi Arabia is preparing to announce a new national air carrier in 2024 in line with the country’s goal to reach 250 global destinations by 2030.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the Future Aviation Forum, Executive Vice President for Economic Policies and Logistics Services at the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Awad Al-Sulami confirmed that the modern national carrier will be announced this year, noting that studies were underway to determine the needs of the sector for additional airlines.

Held under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, GACA is hosting the third edition of the Future Aviation Forum (FAF 2024) at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh from May 20 - 22.

The event focuses on “Elevating Global Connectivity” and strives to boost aviation collaboration via global partnerships, fostering innovation, sustainable air travel, and cultural exchange.

Asked about the current increase in domestic ticket prices, Al-Sulami pointed to the implementation of economic regulations for competition and transparency in the market. This will mainly reflect on supply and demand, he underlined, adding that the introduction of new carriers will lead to competitive prices.

Executive Vice President for Aviation Safety and Environmental Sustainability at GACA Capt. Suleiman Al-Muhaimedi told Asharq Al-Awsat that Saudi Arabia has achieved record indicators in safety rates over the past 15 years.

The Kingdom is one of the signatories of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (also known as Chicago Convention), which defines international rules and recommendations regarding sector standards, he added.

GACA Executive Vice President of Quality and Customer Experience Eng. Abdulaziz Al-Dahmash pointed to a major challenge in the aviation industry, which he said was growing at a rapid pace.

He stated that the target number of travelers during the year 2030 represents three times the current figures, explaining that the Authority has developed programs to measure the traveler’s experience and ensure its flexibility and smoothness.

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Fire, Smoke Upend Western Canada’s Summer Tourism Season

A helicopter works a forest fire outside of Jasper, Alberta, Canada, on Friday July 26, 2024. (Reuters)
A helicopter works a forest fire outside of Jasper, Alberta, Canada, on Friday July 26, 2024. (Reuters)
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Fire, Smoke Upend Western Canada’s Summer Tourism Season

A helicopter works a forest fire outside of Jasper, Alberta, Canada, on Friday July 26, 2024. (Reuters)
A helicopter works a forest fire outside of Jasper, Alberta, Canada, on Friday July 26, 2024. (Reuters)

Severe wildfire seasons are increasingly hurting western Canada's lucrative tourism industry, with some visitors beginning to avoid the busy late-summer months due to concerns about uncontrolled blazes, smoke-filled skies and road closures.

After a scorching start to July, nearly 600 wildfires are now ablaze across British Columbia and Alberta, including a huge fire that this week devastated the picturesque tourist town of Jasper in the Canadian Rockies.

Dozens of communities, including popular holiday spots in British Columbia's Kootenay region, are under evacuation orders and several highways are closed.

This year's surge in wildfire activity comes after Canada endured its worst-ever year for wildfires in 2023, when more than 15 million hectares (37 million acres) burned, including parts of the city of West Kelowna in the heart of British Columbia's wine region.

Ellen Walker-Matthews, head of the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, said the industry was seeing a lot more last-minute travel decisions instead of booking in advance.

"It's a huge blow. July and August are traditionally the busiest months in the region," said Walker-Matthews, adding that while her region has been relatively unscathed by wildfires this summer, some visitors are choosing to avoid interior British Columbia altogether.

The members of the British Columbia Lodging and Campgrounds Association are reporting a 5-15% drop in bookings from a year ago, with the biggest declines coming from the hotter Okanagan and Cariboo regions, said Joss Penny, who heads the association.

"The concern is that this is something we have to live with and we have it every year now," said Penny.

Although wildfires in Canada's forests are natural and common, scientists say drier, hotter conditions fueled by climate change are leading to more volatile and frequent blazes.

'SMOKEY SKIES'

Some events, like the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival, usually held in August, have now been rescheduled to earlier in the summer to avoid what is now seen as peak smoke season. The festival, which was cancelled last year due to nearby wildfires, was this year moved to July to benefit from "less smokey skies."

Wildfires and extreme climatic events are prompting tourists to "change their plans not just temporarily, but permanently," said Elizabeth Halpenny, a tourism researcher and professor at the University of Alberta, noting that seasonal workers in the sector are often the hardest hit as they have few protections during a bad season or amid a cataclysmic fire.

Tourism contributed C$7.2 billion to the British Columbia economy in 2022, and C$9.9 billion to Alberta in 2023, according to the latest government data.

Jasper National Park is one of Canada's premier tourist destinations, with more than 2 million visitors a year flocking to see its pristine mountain landscapes and abundant wildlife, including grizzly bears, moose and elk.

Kelly Torrens, vice-president of product at international tour company Kensington Tours, described western Canada as a bucket-list destination. But the company now has 49 trips that were supposed to pass through Jasper this season in limbo. Six others were forced to evacuate the park when the fire hit.

Parks Canada has cancelled all camping reservations within Jasper National Park until Aug. 6 and with potentially 50% of the town's structures destroyed by fire, the cleanup and rebuild could take years.

Halpenny is among those hedging their bets.

"I've booked a campsite stay in the mountain parks but at the same time, I booked a campsite out on the prairie somewhere and that's my backup plan because I don't want to miss out on my vacation with my family."