المملكة: A new list promised with a record time for travel procedures at the airports of the Kingdom

The General Authority of Civil Aviation in the Kingdom offered a draft “a list of air transport facilities” through the public poll platform, with the aim of creating a qualitative shift in the efficiency of operations in Saudi airports and enhancing the flow of passengers, goods and aircraft.
With a guarantee of the highest standards of security and quality of service, in line with the strategic direction to develop the air transport sector and raise its competitiveness globally.

Travel procedures at airports

Among the most prominent features of the proposed shift in the regulations is the recommendation to cancel the condition of entry visa for citizens of the largest possible number of countries, and to facilitate the procedures for obtaining them electronically, while ensuring the validity of the visas of the visit for at least six months, regardless of the number of entry times.
The regulation also aims to speed up the procedures significantly, specifying a maximum of 60 minutes to end the departure procedures, and 45 minutes for entry procedures, provided that sufficient coordination is available between the authorities working in the air outlets.
The regulation attaches the utmost importance to the security of travel documents, stressing the need to update its security specifications periodically, the adoption of automatically readable passports according to the standard of the International Civil Aviation Organization «ICAO 9303», and raising its verification data to the public keys “PKD” to enhance reliability.

The validity of the automated passports is extended

It also stresses cooperation with Interpol in cases of loss or theft of documents, and prevents the extension of the automated passport validity, and each traveler is obliged to carry an independent passport, with a recommendation not to be less than five years, in addition to supporting the use of smart mechanical monitoring systems (ABC) to examine the documents.
The regulation is particularly concerned with protecting the travelers, as it does not require special approval for the child traveling with one of his parents or a legal guardian, while a written approval is required in the event of unaccompanied travel to prevent any attempts to trafficking in children, while obliging the authorities and aircraft operators to facilitate their crossing and securing them.
In cases of major crises such as natural disasters, wars, or epidemics, the regulations are obligated by authorities and air carriers to provide urgent assistance to stranded travelers, including shelter, food, communications, and facilitating temporary visas, and providing rapid travel alternatives at the company’s expense, which reflects an advanced human and organizational dimension.

Travel luggage regulations

With regard to luggage, the list stresses the need to deliver it at the final arrival point of the passenger, and if it reaches the wrong destination, the plane operator should bear the responsibility of delivering it to the passenger at its expense.
The list preserves the right of passengers to obtain appropriate compensation when delaying, damaging or losing luggage, according to the stipulated in the Montreal International Agreement.
It also determines a clear mechanism for dealing with unknown luggage by keeping it for 60 days before disposing of it according to the regulations followed.

Saudi Air Transport Sector

The regulation seeks to simplify the procedures in general, by not asking travelers, especially visitors, with any documents that are not stipulated in a system or tax payment certificates.
The regulations clarify the responsibilities of each of the passenger, by ensuring the validity of his documents and the air carrier, by allowing him to refuse to transfer the passenger with documents that do not conform to the conditions.
In the event that the passenger is rejected by the authorities of the state of arrival, the airline will return it to its country of origin or any other destination acceptable without commitment to financial compensation for the incomplete flight.

List of air transport facilities

The draft “Air Transport Facilities List” is a comprehensive reformulation of the air travel system in the Kingdom, putting the traveler and his experience at the heart of attention.
This major organizational step aims not only to regulate travel movement, but to build a new relationship based on trust and transparency between all parties concerned.
Besides strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a leading global logistical center, characterized by ease of procedures and quality of services in the air transport sector.