JEDDAH — The General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) issued a stern letter cautioning airport employees to shape up or face disciplinary actions. A source from GACA said the authority witnessed crass behavior from employees at King Abdulaziz International Airport. "The supervision at the airport is weak and employees are not being reprimanded for their misbehavior. Their actions are tarnishing the reputation and outlook of the airport to visitors, arriving for business or Umrah. "Jeddah is known as the commercial and touristic hub in the Kingdom. We cannot afford to make visitors feel unwelcome and disrespected from the first moment they land in the country," said the source. The source also said the new head of GACA Sulaiman Al-Hamdan is pushing for stricter rules to curb the procrastination and shirking of duties among airport employees. "Airports are the first impression travelers arriving at their destination see. Airports should bring out the best in the city or country of destination. GACA has witnessed employees smoking outside of smoking areas, being verbally impolite with passengers and all in all conducting themselves unprofessionally," said the source. The source added the letter instructed the airport administration to form a committee to set the mechanism for implementing disciplinary regulations for anyone in any post in whichever body he is employed. The report of these meetings should be sent to the airport administrations within the maximum period of two weeks. The airport managements, according to GACA, must implement the directives soon on framing the regulations.
