A big thumbs up to the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), for giving the much-needed and much-awaited makeover to the Riyadh Airport, especially the ‘Arrival’ section.
The manners and professional gesture displayed by the immigration officials was something of a pleasant surprise — their body language, courtesies, manners, respect for the travelers and their language were in perfect synchrony.
The airport officials mainly at the immigration section even joked with children in English.
Earlier I would often hear from my traveling family how they had to undergo a harsh and lousy experience at the airport — the same old rough floors, lifeless fountain; and no feel-good experience at the immigration section. Not anymore. It’s now a pleasant departure from the previous experience.
I strongly believe that no amount of PR exercise or huge amount of money can ever achieve the objective, unless the members of the airport staff, who are the first point of contact in the Kingdom, put their best foot forward. The image will develop on its own.
The airport has still space left for improvement, like the x-ray belt where passengers are made to place their luggage. It is discomforting for the elderly or women who travel with young children.
Nothing is permanent, except change. And a marked change for the better is visible in the general administration in the Kingdom. Yet, I wish such humane behavior is replicated in the various departments in the Kingdom. — Bhaskara Sujeet Kumar, Riyadh
Well done, GACA
