Malta-headquartered private aviation operator AirX has secured approval from Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation, clearing the way to base and operate aircraft in the Kingdom.

The sign-off marks AirX’s formal expansion into Saudi Arabia after years of serving the market through international charters. With the license in hand, the company plans to increase aircraft availability locally and deepen relationships with corporate and government clients.

“Saudi Arabia represents one of the most strategic and dynamic aviation markets globally,” said Houssam Hazzoury, Group CEO of AirX. “With Vision 2030 driving unprecedented growth in tourism, investment, and international engagement, we see a clear opportunity to support the Kingdom’s premium private aviation sector with world-class long-range aircraft capability, safety standards, and service excellence”.

AirX operates a fleet of 20 aircraft, spanning heavy jets, Lineage models and widebody VIP configurations. The company is entering the Saudi market with support from AstroLabs, which advises foreign firms setting up in the Gulf.

The move lands as business aviation traffic accelerates across the Middle East. Saudi Arabia recorded 23,612 business jet flights in 2024, up 24 percent year on year. The rise tracks with Vision 2030’s push to attract global companies, investors and tourists, alongside major aviation infrastructure spending.

Relocation trends are also reshaping demand. Reports point to a 700 percent increase in millionaire relocations (a figure of 2,400) in 2025, adding fuel to premium charter activity. The Kingdom’s private aviation market is forecast to reach $2 billion by the end of the decade.

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For AirX, the GACA approval is operational, rather than simply symbolic. It allows aircraft to be positioned in-market rather than flown in ad hoc, tightening response times and expanding capacity across Riyadh, Jeddah and emerging hubs such as the NEOM project.

“AirX’s expansion comes at a pivotal time as Saudi Arabia consolidates its position as a global aviation and tourism hub,” said Fouad Fattal, Vice President, Commercial at AstroLabs.

As more multinationals anchor regional headquarters in Riyadh, competition among charter operators is set to intensify. AirX is betting that scale, long-range capability and early regulatory alignment will secure it a larger slice of the Kingdom’s fast-maturing private aviation segment.