Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport Takes Top Spot at Aviation Security Audit Awards
In a thrilling victory, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has clinched the first-place title at Saudi Arabia’s annual Aviation Security Audit Awards. The airport, located in the capital city, achieved an outstanding 80 percent overall average in service quality assessments for the year 2023.
Recognition for Excellence
The prestigious award was announced during the Future Aviation Forum in Riyadh, where King Khalid International Airport was commended for its exceptional performance. Factors such as operational standards, evaluation of airport facilities and services, passenger satisfaction surveys, and handling of passenger complaints all contributed to the airport’s success.
Following closely behind, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Abha International Airport were honored with the second and third awards, respectively.
Continuous Improvement in Airport Services
The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) reported a significant 6 percent increase in Saudi airport performance in 2023 compared to the previous year. This improvement was highlighted in the Comprehensive Airport Service Quality Assessment Program results, which is one of GACA’s initiatives aimed at evaluating and enhancing passenger services at Saudi airports.
The event was attended by Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, the president of GACA, along with CEOs of airport companies and directors general of Saudi airports. Al-Duailej emphasized the importance of passenger services and satisfaction as guiding principles for the Kingdom’s airports.
Commitment to Excellence
Al-Duailej stressed GACA’s commitment to enhancing service quality, creating competitive airport environments, and promoting continual improvement and development. He noted that GACA’s efforts align with the objectives of the National Aviation Strategy, focusing on improving the passenger experience and meeting international standards.
GACA has implemented strict monitoring and supervision standards to enhance the passenger experience at airports, collecting over 1 million samples of operational performance data and incorporating feedback from service users and stakeholders into the service development process.
Empowering the Airport Sector
During the event, Al-Duailej launched the ‘Bridges’ program, designed to empower and connect the Saudi airport sector with local content. The program includes 23 investment opportunities valued at SR7 billion ($1.87 billion) by 2030, focusing on developing national human capabilities across several strategic pillars.