GACA seeks to privatize King Abdulaziz airport by H1 2019: report

The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) plans to privatize King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) by the second half (H1) of 2019, Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper reported, citing GACA chairman Abdul Hakim Al-Tamimi.

The airport will be first corporatized, or turned into a private company as part of the Kingdom’s drive to privatize airports, the report added.

“The Saudi aviation authority has already started privatizing King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) and King Fahd International Airport (KFIA) in Dammam, as they will be transformed into companies fully owned by Saudi Civil Aviation Holding,” Al-Tamimi said.

KAIA, which launched commercial operations in May, accommodates around 50 million passengers annually.

The Saudi government said it planned to raise about $200 billion through its privatization program in coming years, according to earlier news reports.