Nesma and SaudiGulf Airlines will launch operations in Saudi airspace in the middle of the current year, says Abdullah Al-Kharif, spokesman for the General Authority of Civil Aviation of Saudi Arabia (GACA).

Nesma flights, after getting a license from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) as a domestic aviation carrier, will connect the regions of the Kingdom from Hail Airport, linking the northern cities together through one trip toward 12 itineraries with a capacity of 70 seats daily as a first phase, confirming that the second phase would include all the Kingdom's airports, Al-Kharif added.

Meanwhile, the SaudiGulf Airlines will operate from Dammam as the main base for its flights from inside and outside the Kingdom, with its four A320 modern aircraft, the spokesman said, explaining that the carrier will provide full service on domestic flights, including first class and tourism categories, and ground and air services according to the latest modern technologies.

Regarding Al-Maha Airways, the official said that the company conducts a re-evaluating process to enter the Saudi market, confirming that there is a mutual committee, comprising GACA and the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, which aims to study the airport's status to determine whether it might be operated or not.

Air carriers must obtain a technical license concerning the safety of all security, service and operational procedures to launch operations in the Kingdom, along with a total examination of the aircraft.