JEDDAH, 20 September 2007 — A General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) source told Arab News yesterday that the air transport regulator has issued a list of penalties against passengers who violate safety norms.
A recent general body meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which Saudi Arabia is a member of, prepared the list of the illegal activities in an aircraft, the business daily Al-Eqtisadiah reported yesterday quoting an airline industry source. For example, a passenger would have to pay a fine of SR300 if he refuses to obey the no-smoking regulation and SR500 for smoking in the toilet.
Tampering with the smoke detector in the toilet would be punishable by a fine of SR1,000. Refusal to sit on the allocated seat or to secure the seatbelt risks a fine of SR200. Refusal to follow any of the internationally approved air safety instructions would incur a fine of SR200.
These violations and their punishments come under the jurisdiction of the Court of Grievances if they are committed on board aircraft registered in the Kingdom, or aircraft operated by a Saudi airline in air zones not under the jurisdiction of any other country.
GACA regulates the civil aviation sector in the Kingdom and oversees the development of the country’s air traffic industry besides undertaking the construction, maintenance and operation of civilian airports.
