Is my flight legal in Saudi Arabia?

GACA's e-service for Part 135 certification is for each person who holds or must hold an Air Operator Certificate under GACAR Part 119. Part 135 covers the scheduled and unscheduled commercial operation of aircraft other than transport category aircraft, which takes in most business jets and helicopters on charter.

The applicant needs a Saudi company trade registration, proof of ownership or a long-term lease of the aircraft, its registration and airworthiness certificates, named heads of operations and maintenance, and approved operating, maintenance and safety management manuals. Aircraft not on the Saudi HZ register count as leased, and wet-leased aircraft are not permitted.

GACA also issues an economic licence to an on-demand air carrier. Its fee schedule lists it at SAR 300,000 for five years, with the operator certificate included.

From 1 May 2025, GACA allowed foreign operators of private aircraft to run on-demand flights within the Kingdom, provided they meet the requirements of the Civil Aviation Law's executive regulations. This removed the old cabotage restriction on domestic charter by foreign operators.

GACA gave VistaJet the first Foreign Operator Certificate for domestic flights on 20 August 2025, and FlexJet the second on 1 December 2025. A foreign operator without that certificate can still fly you into or out of the Kingdom with a landing permit, but not between two Saudi cities.

A broker arranges a flight on your behalf with an operator that holds the certificate. The broker does not fly the aircraft and is not the operator. GACA's published fee framework lists licences for carriers, regulated agents and aviation services representatives; we did not find a separate GACA licence for charter brokers.

We act as broker. The operator's name and certificate appear on your quote, and the operator is responsible for the flight, the crew and the aircraft.