Business & Money | Tuesday 24 March, 2020 3:04 pm |

 The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) implemented several preventive measures to combat the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Kingdom's airports, in coordination with the Ministry of Health. GACA obliged the air freight companies operating in Saudi airports to comply with health safety requirements and take all health and preventive measures, in order to ensure the continuity of shipping and supply operations and the arrival of goods and necessary products. Furthermore, the flow of goods to the air freight stations in the Kingdom's airports in a safe and secure manner.

The procedures and practical steps taken by GACA included compelling air freight companies operating in the Kingdom's airports to conduct sterilization and disinfection operations on a routine basis in all air cargo stations at airports and apply the highest levels of prevention in accordance with international safety and health standards. This in addition to providing sanitary sterilizers and distribute preventive tools for all the cargo’s stations staff and visitors alike.

The Saudi Arabian Airlines Air Cargo Company has taken proactive steps to ensure the continuity of all shipping and supply operations and the arrival of necessary goods and products, that include medical equipments, medicines and foodstuffs. The company operates on the basis of official decisions, instructions and directives to ensure compatibility between meeting humanitarian needs and protecting public safety. Furthermore, all cargo flights will continue to operate in all stations, work in these stations is proceeding as planned, in order to mitigate the impact of the imposed suspension, and the decision to suspend passenger flights as a precautionary measure has led Saudi Cargo to operate a number of additional flights to other stations for additional shipping capacity. The company will also continue its cargo flights on humanitarian and commercial basis and will operate on certain commercial and safe ports and major shipping terminals around the Globe.