Article 68 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 68 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثاني: الحقوق على الطائرات
The article defines an aircraft lease as a written contract for the lessee to use the aircraft, with or without crew, for a fee, and it takes effect only after the Authority approves it.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
عقد إيجار الطائرة عقد مكتوب يلتزم بمقتضاه المؤجر بتمكين المستأجر من الانتفاع بطائرته مع هيئة القيادة أو بدونها لرحلة أو أكثر أو لعمل جوي، أو لمدة معينة، وذلك بمقابل أجر، ولا يعمل بعقد إيجار الطائرة إلا بعد موافقة الهيئة، وتحدد اللائحة واجبات مؤجر الطائرة ومستأجرها وشروط التعاقد.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 68 explained in plain English
This article sets the basic framework for aircraft lease contracts in the Kingdom.
Definition of the contract: It is a written contract under which the lessor undertakes to enable the lessee to use their aircraft, for a fee. The lease may be:
- with a flight crew (that is, the aircraft with its crew) or without one;
- for one or more flights, for an aerial work, or for a fixed period.
The basic conditions stated in the text:
- The contract must be in writing.
- It must be for a fee.
- The contract takes effect only after the Authority approves it, so signature by the two parties is not enough to begin performance.
The duties of the lessor and the lessee and the detailed contracting conditions were referred by the article to the Implementing Regulations and are not set out in the text. Article 69 then sets out who bears liability according to the lease period: the owner remains jointly liable with the lessee if the period does not exceed 14 days, and the operating lessee alone is liable if the period exceeds that or the lease is made with a view to purchase, unless the contract provides otherwise. Anyone planning to enter an aircraft lease may seek help from a lawyer specializing in commercial contracts and civil aviation law.
Practical example
A tourism company in Jeddah leases an aircraft with its crew from another operator to run Umrah season flights for one month. The contract must be in writing and for a fee, and performance may not begin until the General Authority of Civil Aviation approves it.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 68 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Can an aircraft be leased by oral agreement?
No. The article defines an aircraft lease as a written contract.
Is signing an aircraft lease enough to begin operating the aircraft?
No. An aircraft lease takes effect only after the Authority approves it.
Can an aircraft be leased together with its crew?
Yes. The lease may be with or without a flight crew, for one or more flights, for an aerial work, or for a fixed period.
More articles on Aircraft Leasing
- Article 56
Ownership, a possessor's right to acquire by purchase, lease use and formal mortgage or similar rights may be created over civil aircraft; no other right may take priority over them except privileged debts.
1- يجوز إنشاء الحقوق الآتية على الطائرات المدنية : أ - حق ملكية الطائرة . ب - حق حائز الطائرة في اكتساب ملكيتها بالشراء. ج - حق استعمال الطائرة وفقا لأحكام عقد
- Article 60
Any legal disposition of a national aircraft, such as sale, lease or mortgage, to any person is permitted, but it does not take effect against third parties until registered in the register.
يجوز إجراء أي تصرف قانوني على أي طائرة وطنية إلى أي شخص بالبيع أو الإيجار أو الرهن، أو أي تصرف شرعي أو قانوني آخر، ولا يسري هذا التصرف في مواجهة الغير إلا بعد ق
- Article 69
The aircraft owner remains jointly liable with the lessee if the lease does not exceed 14 days; the operating lessee alone is liable for longer leases or leases made with a view to purchase.
1- يبقى مالك الطائرة المؤجرة مسؤولا بالتضامن مع مستأجرها عن الالتزامات القانونية الملقاة على عاتق المستثمر فيما يتعلق بالطائرة وهيئة قيادتها عملا بأحكام هذا الن
- Article 70
Before buying, leasing out or leasing any aircraft, a Saudi operator must verify that the aircraft meets the technical conditions and standards set by the Authority.
على المشغل السعودي قبل شراء أي طائرة ، أو تأجيرها، أو استئجارها؛ التحقق من توافر الشروط والمستويات الفنية التي تحددها الهيئة في الطائرة .
- Article 143
A person entitled to use the aircraft for less than 14 days is jointly liable with the person who authorized the use, and the operator is jointly liable with anyone who used its aircraft without its consent unless it proves it took the necessary care.
1- يكون الشخص الذي له حق استعمال الطائرة لمدة تقل عن أربعة عشر يوما مسؤولا بالتضامن مع الشخص الذي خوله هذا الحق في دفع التعويض عن الأضرار الموجبة للتعويض المشار
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.