The General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) is in the process of implementing a new project for the security and protection of airports in Saudi Arabia.

An informed source who preferred anonymity told a local newspaper that the “National integrated project for the security and protection of airports in the country aims to transform the quality of the security in the airports by introducing an advanced and integrated security technology system.”

He added that the civil aviation activities in the field of aviation safety and security have been subjected to accurate audit programs concerning compliance with the international standards in this field.”The results of the audit showed high scores in terms of compliance with the international standards compared with the world average,” explained the source.

“The GACA also launched other programs such as the certified shipper program under which there are currently about 62 certified cargo agencies,” he said. The source also noted that the GACA is keen on providing sophisticated modern equipment to detect hazardous materials and substances used in the illegal intervention in the civil aviation security systems, in a manner that keeps pace with the rapid developments in these techniques.

“GACA is committed to the international and local security and safety standards through the specialized departments for aviation security and safety. Saudi Arabia has been one of the first countries in the world to support and intensify international efforts to strengthen the security and safety of air transport through its contributions in the international civil aviation organizations,” said the source, adding that the authority worked on attracting and providing qualified cadres in the field of security and safety missions in airports.

In a related issue, the spokesman for the Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia), Abdul Rahman Fahd, confirmed that the national carrier is implementing a second checking and inspection process for passengers and their baggage in some airports abroad that require strict security measures to be undertaken.

“Saudia is working on measures to follow up and monitor its planes, passengers and their baggage in a number of airports through trained and qualified navigation teams. The safety of passengers and the planes are not to be compromised at any time,” the spokesman was quoted as saying to the publication.

The Saudi Ambassador in the Philippines, Abdullah Al-Busairi, said that the embassy is coordinating with the competent Philippine authorities to intensify and tighten security measures on Saudi planes, and to closely and thoroughly inspect and search the passengers following the news of an Iranian plot aimed at recruiting terrorists to hijack and bomb Saudi airplanes, recently.

The ambassador denied the news circulated in previous weeks about the evacuation of a Saudi passenger plane, or the arrest of terrorists in the Philippines targeting the security and interests of Saudi Arabia. “There are some strict and tight security procedures in place, yes; but this has been done to protect the interests of Saudi Arabia after receiving information that the Iranian regime is recruiting terrorists to target the security of Saudi planes,” the ambassador was quoted as saying by local media.

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