The President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, signed a One-Stop Security agreement in the British capital, London, with the Government of the United Kingdom, represented by Dr. Rannia Leontaridi, Director General for Aviation, Maritime and Security at the UK Department for Transport.
The agreement is a strategic step that strengthens the Kingdom's position as a global aviation hub and helps make the passenger experience more efficient by reducing transit time and repetitive procedures, while maintaining the highest security and safety standards, according to a press release published on the website of Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation.
GACA's Executive Vice President for Aviation Security, Mohammed bin Saad Al-Fawzan, affirmed that recognizing the security screening carried out at UK airports when flights arrive at the Kingdom's airports reflects mutual trust in the two countries' security systems, noting that this helps "focus our resources on more advanced, risk-based measures."
He added that the agreement will enhance the passenger experience and improve the flow of operations, and that it highlights "our shared commitment to applying the highest standards set out in Annex 17 to the Chicago Convention and the guidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organization."
The scope of the agreement includes recognizing the screening of passengers and their bags at UK airports without the need to offload baggage or re-screen at the Kingdom's airports, speeding up procedures for connecting flights and reducing passenger waiting times.
Implementing these procedures will raise passenger satisfaction and airport operating efficiency and improve airlines' operational scheduling by reducing ground time on the apron, in addition to strengthening security and technical cooperation through the exchange of best practices and data on risk management and threat assessment.
The agreement is part of GACA's initiatives to enhance the passenger experience and turn the Kingdom's airports into competitive global connecting gateways, drawing on the latest technologies and digital solutions. It also confirms both sides' commitment to ensuring the highest levels of aviation security and safety and to facilitating international travel and trade.
To view the post on the website of Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation, click here.
