Saudi Arabia’s first Future Aviation Forum launches in May

Taking place in Riyadh, more than 120 speakers will participate in 40 sessions over three days

Saudi Arabia has announced the launch of the inaugural Future Aviation Forum, which will take place in the country’s capital from 9 to 11 May 2022.

Hosted by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the conference will unite aviation industry leaders from across the globe to discuss the evolution of international air travel and the solutions required in a post-pandemic world.

More than 120 speakers and 2,000 attendees are expected at the event with delegates invited to attend 40 sessions.

The event will focus on three core pillars: passenger experience, sustainability and post-pandemic recovery

Speaking about the forum, Saudi Arabia’s minister of Transport and Logistics, Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser said: “The Future Aviation Forum will be a pivotal moment for the global aviation sector. We will bring together the brightest minds from around the world to forge solutions for how the sector can recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, transform the passenger experience, and invest in innovations that will lower carbon emissions and reduce environmental impact.”

GACA is coordinating closely with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the Montreal-based UN agency responsible for fostering the planning and development of the air transport industry globally.

ICAO Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano added: “Global cooperation across the aviation sector is needed now more than ever. We must work together to build greater resilience to future health crises, to rethink and modernise every step of the passenger journey, and to ensure the sustainability of aviation in the face of the climate emergency.

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“I look forward to the coming together of the industry’s top leaders in Riyadh at the Future Aviation Forum, where we can collaborate to drive the ambition, innovation and policymaking needed to ensure a promising future for the industry.”

Sharing his thoughts on the importance of the event for both the Saudi and the global aviation sector, GACA president Abdulaziz Al-Duailej said: “The scale of opportunity for the aviation world in Saudi Arabia is unprecedented. The Future Aviation Forum is an opportunity to participate from the outset in Saudi Arabia’s rapid emergence as the Middle East’s preeminent aviation hub.

“The forum will drive business deals and mobilise funding for innovation to make the industry economically and environmentally sustainable. We invite key players from the aviation world to Saudi Arabia so that together we can drive solutions that will allow the global sector to thrive in the years to come.”

GACA’s National Aviation Sector Strategy (NASS) aims to increase air connectivity to 250 destinations, reaching 330 million passengers

A major pillar of the Vision 2030 economic transformation plan, Saudi Arabia’s transport and logistics sector is undergoing rapid development.

The kingdom also has plans to launch a new national airline that will join existing national carriers, Saudia, Flynas and Flyadeal, and Riyadh will be home to a new international airport.

For more information, visit www.gaca.gov.sa