GACA: Airfares for international flights rise in summer, gradual drop in fares expected

GACA: Airfares for international flights rise in summer, gradual drop in fares expected

Saudi Gazette report RIYADH “” The aviation sector was greatly impacted by the pandemic, and the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has followed a free market policy that calls for and encourages competitiveness, GACA spokesman Ibrahim Al-Ru'asaa admitted to Okaz newspaper recently. Al-Ru'asaa also attributed the rise in airfares for international flights to their coinciding with the summer season. The airfares are expected to decrease gradually after the flights become regular and increase in number. He confirmed that GACA was closely monitoring this matter and it has indices and classifications, which it issues periodically, on carriers and airports, including air-ticket prices. He praised the response of passengers, employees and workers to the directives issued on the precautionary measures against the COVID-19 pandemic. This has contributed to making the airports a safe environment. He stressed that implementing the measures recommended by the concerned authorities contributes to achieving better health quality and does not impede it. The airports are a service utility like any other utility, where the precautionary measures were not the reason for the drop in number of clients, but their growth will increase in direct proportion to the conditions for departure of Saudis and the arrival of non-Saudis.