RIYADH | SAUDI ARABIA – A fake circular suggesting Saudi Arabia will resume international flights in October has been condemned as ‘completely baseless and fabricated’ by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).
Rumors that international flights will shortly return have been circulating on social media in recent weeks without any official statement from GACA.
In Tuesday, the authority denied announcing the resumption of international flights and said information being circulated was fabricated.
Saudi Arabia suspended international flights from March 15 in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Since domestic flights restarted on May 31, rumors have been circulating regarding the return of international flights. On Monday, the bogus GACA circular was shared on various social media platforms suggesting flights into and out of Saudi Arabia would resume in October. It sparked a flurry of speculation.
The circular, titled ‘No flights till October 2020’, said: ‘An employee of the GACA has stated in a recent interview that all international flights to and from the Kingdom are to remain suspended till the month of October’. Quoting a GACA official, the circular said that the decision was subject to the number of coronavirus cases, which must ‘come down to three digits’.
GACA official spokesman Ibrahim bin Abdullah Alrwosa told reporters that the circular ‘is completely baseless and fabricated’.
He shared a tweet from the authority’s public relations department describing the circular as incorrect.
The civil aviation authority has previously said there is no specific date for the resumption of international flights, he added.
All international flights remain suspended until further notice.
However, exceptions have been for humanitarian assistance and emergency cases, medical evacuation flight and repatriation of stranded citizens and expatriates wanting to return home.
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have donated a total of $7.9 million (SR 30 million) to charity through the Kingdom’s Ehsan Platform, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Friday. King Salman donated $5.3 million (SR20 million) for charitable and non – profitable works, while the Crown Prince contributed … More Saudi Arabia’s King Salman, Crown Prince Donate Total of $7.9 Mln To Charity
King Salman on Thursday appointed Prince Mishaal bin Majed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud as adviser to the king, with the rank of minister, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. Prince Mishaal has been governor of Jeddah since 1997 and a member of the Allegiance Council since 2007. He is president of the governing council of … More Prince Mishaal Bin Majed Appointed Adviser To The King Salman
The Unites States on Thursday imposed a boar array of sanctions on Russia to punish it for election interference, cyber – hacking, bullying Ukraine and other ‘malign’ acts. The measures blacklisted Russian companies, expelled Russian diplomats and placed limits on the Russian sovereign debt market in steps sure to anger Moscow. Among the actions, President … More U.S. Imposes Wide Array Of Sanctions On Russia For ‘Malign’ Actions
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth return to royal duties on Tuesday, four days after the death of her husband, Prince Philip, in an event to mark the retirement of her household’s most senior official, PA Media reported. The queen hosted a ceremony as the Earl Peel stepped down as Lord Chamberlain, the report added. Philip, who has … More Queen Elizabeth Returns To Royal Duties Four Days After Her Husband’s Death – PM Media
The Arab coalition destroyed a Houthi explosive – laden drone launched toward Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, Al – Ekhbariya reported. The drone targeting Jazan is the latest in a long line of attacks against the Kingdom by the Iran – back Houthi militia. The coalition said the attack is a continuation of the Houthi’s systematic … More Arab Coalition Destroys Houthi Drone Targeting Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) is celebrating the holy month of Ramadan with a wide selection of cultural events and interactive activities. Ithra is offering visitors a chance to take part in events focused on national traditions and Saudi Arabian heritage, as well as different interactive workshops. The centre’s Ramadan program also includes a collection … More Saudi Arabia’s Ithra Celebrates Ramadan With Cultural Events, Activities
Reuters News has name one of its top editors, Alessandra Galloni, as it its next editor-in-chief, the first woman to lead the global – spanning news agency in its 170-year history. A native of Rome, Galloni, 47, will replace Stephen J. Adler, who is retiring this month after leading the newsroom for the past decade. … More Reuters Names Alessandra Galloni As Its Next Editor – In – Chief
Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth who played a leading figure in the British royal family for almost seven decades, has died aged 99, Buckingham Palace said on Friday. The Duke of Edniburgh, as he was been y his wife’s side through her 69-year reign, the longest in British history, during which time he … More Britain’s Prince Philip Has Died
Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will join Fox News Media as a contributor, the news network controlled by media baron Rupert Murdoch said on Thursday. Pompeo is the latest former Trump administration official to join the network. Other notable names include former White House secretary Kayleigh McEnany and Trump’s top economic adviser Larry … More Former Secretary Of State Pompeo To Join Fox News Media
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the opening of the Sakaka IPP PV power plat, the Kingdom’s first renewable energy project, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Thursday. The launch of the Sakaka IPP PV and the signing power purchase agreements (PPA) for seven new projects are the result of King Salman’s … More Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Announces Opening Of Sakaka Power Plant
This year’s French Open has been postponed by a week due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will begin on May 30, the French Tennis Federation (FFT) said on Thursday. The claycourt Grand Slam, which was postponed by four months last year and took place in front of limited crowds, will finish on June 13, two … More Tennis – French Open Postponed To May 30 Amid COVID-19 Crisis