JEDDAH -- The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has blacklisted a number of airlines for violating safety regulations, said GACA spokesman Abdullah Al-Khiraif.
"Some of the airlines are on the blacklist due to the political stances of the country they represent. Iran is one of the countries whose airlines have been banned from landing in the Kingdom," he said.
GACA has also revoked the license it granted to Mahan Air, a private airlines based in Tehran.
"Each country has its own civil aviation authority which monitors the airlines that are permitted to land in its airports. The authority is responsible for passengers' safety. If an airline does not meet safety regulations, the authority will not risk giving it license to operate in the Kingdom," said Al-Khiraif.
He also said the authority is legally liable to sue and penalize airlines that violate its regulations within the terrestrial, marine and aerial regions of the Kingdom.
"Violations of the regulations include not showing the logo of the airline or showing the logo without a license, smuggling weaponry and contraband items onboard and committing a crime which jeopardizes national security," said Al-Khiraif.
He also said the authority can seize an airplane for violations or impose a monetary fine.
"The pilot of a violating airplane may be subject to three years imprisonment and the airline will be fined a maximum of SR300,000. The authority will also inspect pilots and check whether they are licensed to operate an airplane or not," said Al-Khiraif.
© The Saudi Gazette 2016
