Flexjet Malta Gains Approval for Saudi Domestic Flights

Flexjet has secured authorisation from Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to operate domestic on-demand charter flights within the Kingdom. Flexjet global chief executive Andrew Collins confirmed the approval was granted to Flexjet Operations (Malta), marking a significant step in the company’s expansion strategy across the Gulf Cooperation Council region.

The Maltese AOC currently includes a diverse fleet: three Global Express XRS jets, four Legacy 500s (one parked at Milan Linate since September 2024), seven Praetor 600s, one G650, and two G650ER aircraft. Collins noted that Maltese-registered jets now make up the majority of Flexjet’s Europe, Middle East, and Africa fleet.

Flexjet sees strong demand for both the G650 and Praetor 600 on domestic Saudi routes, with Riyadh–Jeddah flights emerging as the most requested. The company becomes the second business aviation operator authorised for domestic operations in Saudi Arabia, following VistaJet Malta’s approval in August. VistaJet has since operated 37 domestic flights, primarily linking Riyadh and Jeddah.

The approvals for both operators follow GACA’s removal of cabotage restrictions for foreign-operated on-demand charters on May 1, part of a broader effort to accelerate growth in Saudi Arabia’s private aviation market.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com