After hitting a record high in 2023, Saudi Arabia’s airports saw the number of passengers rise by 17 percent in the first half of the current year, thus reaching nearly 62 million passengers.
According to recent data released by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), this figure represents a 12 percent increase, with a total of 446,000 flights recorded during the same period.
At the same time, air freight also experienced this positive trend with a 41 percent increase in air cargo transportation to 606,000 tons by the end of June, VisaGuide.World reports.
As the GACA data reveals, this growth is attributed to Low-Cost Carriers, which recorded 38 percent growth on the international route and 22 percent on domestic routes.
The Aseer region is a shining example of aviation’s role in enabling tourism and economic growth across the Kingdom, with more than 100 companies bidding to participate in the Abha Airport Public-Private Partnership project to expand capacity from 1.5 million to 13 million passengers.
Saudi Arabia’s Airports Ranks as Most Advanced Airline for 2024
Saudia won awards for being the world’s most advanced airline and having the best economy-class catering for 2024 in Skytrax’s global rankings.
In the past six months, Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector has also seen several achievements, including 16 Saudi airports receiving Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Service Quality (ASQ) accreditation for 2024. As a result, Saudi Arabia’s airports have continued to progress in ranking among the top 50 airports worldwide.
In addition, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam won three of the Saudi Airports Awards 2023, including the award for the best airport in the 5-15 million passenger category, the award for the best customs inspection area and the award for the most good ones services for persons with disabilities.
New Initiatives to Expand Capacity of Saudi Arabia’s Airports to Receive More Passengers
Saudi Arabia’s airline network has expanded significantly, now reaching 163 destinations – an increase of 23 percent compared to last year. This improved connectivity is expected further to boost tourism and economic growth across the Kingdom.
The aviation sector’s achievements show progress in GACA’s initiatives and programs, which aim to develop the sector at the local, regional, and international levels following the National Strategy of Saudi Arabia for the Civil Aviation Sector.
The strategy aims to increase the number of passengers in Saudi Arabia to 330 million, increase air transport capacity to 4.5 million tonnes and increase air connectivity to 250 destinations to and from Saudi Arabian airports by 2030.