Article 69 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 69 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثاني: الحقوق على الطائرات
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يبقى مالك الطائرة المؤجرة مسؤولا بالتضامن مع مستأجرها عن الالتزامات القانونية الملقاة على عاتق المستثمر فيما يتعلق بالطائرة وهيئة قيادتها عملا بأحكام هذا النظام إذا كانت مدة الإيجار لا تزيد عن أربعة عشر يومًا.
2- إذا كان عقد الإيجار لفترة تزيد عن أربعة عشر يوما أو كان بقصد الشراء، فإن المستأجر المشغل للطائرة يكون وحده مسؤولا عن الالتزامات المشار إليها في الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة ما لم ينص عقد الإيجار على خلاف ذلك.
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 69 explained in plain English
This article determines who bears the legal obligations relating to the aircraft and its flight crew when the aircraft is leased, and ties this to the length of the lease.
- Lease of no more than 14 days: The aircraft owner remains jointly liable with the lessee for the legal obligations placed on the operator under this Law with respect to the aircraft and its flight crew. Joint liability means either of them can be asked to perform the whole obligation.
- Lease of more than 14 days or with a view to purchase: The lessee who operates the aircraft is alone liable for those obligations, unless the lease contract provides otherwise.
The reasoning behind this distinction is that a short lease does not fully transfer actual control of the aircraft, so the owner remains a partner in liability, whereas a long lease, or one ending in ownership, makes the lessee the actual operator.
Note that the contractual exception (unless the contract provides otherwise) appears in the second paragraph, on the long lease, so the parties may agree on a different allocation of liability there. This article is linked to Article 68, which defines the lease contract and requires the Authority's approval of it. To understand how the wording of the contract affects liability, it is wise to consult a lawyer specializing in commercial contracts and civil aviation law.
Practical example
A company in Riyadh leases a small aircraft to another operator for 10 days. During this period the owner remains jointly liable with the lessee for the legal obligations relating to the aircraft and its crew. If the lease were for six months, the operating lessee alone would be liable, unless the contract provides otherwise.
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 69 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Is the owner of an aircraft liable if they lease it out?
Yes. The owner remains jointly liable with the lessee if the lease period does not exceed fourteen days.
Who is liable in a lease that ends in purchase?
If the lease is made with a view to purchase, the lessee who operates the aircraft is alone liable, unless the contract provides otherwise.
Can the contract allocate liability differently?
The text allows it for a lease of more than fourteen days or one made with a view to purchase, in the words: unless the lease contract provides otherwise.
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 68
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.
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 بم
- 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.