Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority said the Kingdom will resume international flights on May 17 after they have been earlier suspended due to coronavirus travel restrictions, according to reports citing a circular.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed the date in a statement it sent out to local airports. All international flights and airports will resume regular operations in May instead of March 31, as earlier announced in January, Arab News reports.
Travel may be suspended to specific countries where the coronavirus pandemic situation remains bad, the circular said.
The circular appeared to be issued just before the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Abdulhadi al-Mansouri, was relieved of his duties by royal decree on Friday. Al-Mansouri will serve as the foreign minister’s aide for executive affairs in the rank of minister.
Abdulaziz al-Daelij was appointed President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation in the rank of minister.
Saudi Arabia took significant steps to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus within the Kingdom’s borders over the last year since the start of the pandemic, including putting in place significant travel restrictions.
The Kingdom all but cancelled its annual Hajj pilgrimage in 2020, keeping it open only to a small number of local pilgrims, out of an abundance of caution to prevent the spread of the virus.
