VistaJet cleared for domestic flights in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has redrawn the map for private aviation. VistaJet is now the first international operator cleared to run domestic flights inside the Kingdom, a move that came into effect on May 1, 2025 after authorities dropped cabotage restrictions on charter operations.

The authorization was handed down by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), which said the move should increase competition and improve service quality for travelers. Officials also pitched it as an important step for the broader general aviation roadmap, a government-backed plan that ties aviation growth to tourism and investment goals under Vision 2030.

Awad Alsulami, Executive Vice President for Economic Policies & Logistics Services at GACA, said:“Authorizing VistaJet as the first international private jet operator for domestic operations in the Kingdom is a milestone in enhancing the general aviation market in Saudi Arabia. This step will foster greater competition, stimulate sector growth, and raise the quality of services for private aviation customers in the Kingdom and across the region.”

This is not just about luxury flyers. By opening up the skies to foreign players, Saudi Arabia is banking it can stimulate private aviation, pull in more investment, and, eventually, support the country’s push to attract high-value tourism.

VistaJet has the rare distinction of being first through the door, a title that could carry weight in one of the region’s most competitive aviation markets.