Tourism & Hospitality | Wednesday 26 June, 2019 3:15 am |

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announced on Tuesday (June 25) the opening of Neom Bay Airport situated in Sharma Area in the northern part of the Kingdom.

In a statement, the GACA said it has given a commercial airport license to the newly built facility which is now ready to receive commercial flights as of next week after completion of the first stage of the development works.

The airport's registration with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) was approved earlier with the symbol “NUM” and it is scheduled to receive its first commercial flight on Sunday (June 30).

In its current stage, Neom Bay Airport will operate regular flights to transport investors and those working on the Neom project.

As one of the most modern and distinctive airports in the Middle East and strategically located at the border of three countries — Saudi Arabia Jordan and Egypt — it provides a new window to the Red Sea.

The total area of the airport is 3643 sq. meters and has a hangar to accommodate as many as six aircraft.

Some 70 percent of the world population can reach the region by air within a maximum period of 8 hours.