Airports Council International Asia-Pacific and Middle East (ACI APAC & MID), the trade group representing over 600 airports across 45 countries and territories, welcomed the decision of Gulf Cooperation Council to establish the Gulf Civil Aviation Authority, describing the initiative as historic milestone for aviation in the region that will strengthen regional integration, enhance global competitiveness, and lay the institutional foundations for a new era of coordinated aviation development across the Gulf countries.

ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East Director General Stefano Baronci said: “This decision arrives at the right moment, aligned with the scale of growth underway. At ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East, we have consistently called for the creation of a unified aviation regulator for the GCC to address fragmentation, improve coordination, and enable more harmonised air transport policies. We are convinced that this development represents the first step toward a more integrated single aviation market, one in which constraints on market access can be progressively eased to further advance connectivity, open new opportunities for secondary airports, and ultimately benefit the travelling public through greater choice, improved convenience, and a more seamless passenger experience. ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East looks forward to working closely with the future Authority to enhance the social and economic benefit that the airport industry can generate in the Region.”

ACI APAC & MID also welcomed the Gulf Cooperation Council’s announcement of a one-stop travel system that complements wider regional integration efforts and represents a meaningful step that can support economic growth while reinforcing social development across the region.