JEDDAH: The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announced on Saturday that it would shift flight operations from the existing Tabuk airport to the newly constructed terminal on Monday, with Saudi Arabian Airlines operating the first flight.
The GACA also said that the new Tabuk Regional Airport, which is provided with state-of-the-art aviation facilities, would receive international flights.
The GACA is studying applications from three airlines -- FlyDubai, AlMasria Universal and Nile Air -- to operate international flights from Tabuk Regional Airport. "We expect more such applications from other airlines," it added.
The Tabuk airport, which was modernized and expanded recently with panoramic front designs and new runways at a cost of SR242 million, is one of the Kingdom's new generation airports.
The GACA carried out the project in order to meet the requirements of the growing number of passengers visiting the Tabuk province. Last year, the airport handled more than 686,000 passengers and nearly 2,500 tons of cargo.
The new airport project, which covered renovation of 18 buildings and construction of a new terminal, will boost the growth of Tabuk province.
A large number of people have started traveling to Tabuk for business, investment, education and tourism.
The airport will receive 77 flights weekly from 11 airports in the Kingdom, the GACA said.
© Arab News 2011
