Saudi Arabia’s Airports Soar During Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr Holidays
In a bustling month of Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr holidays, Saudi Arabia’s airports experienced an impressive 18 percent increase in both flights and passengers compared to the previous year. The General Authority of Civil Aviation reported that over 12.5 million passengers passed through the Kingdom’s airports during this period.
Impressive Numbers
During the festive season, Saudi airports managed to handle more than 86,000 flights and 100 cargo flights. Leading the pack in terms of passenger traffic was King Abdulaziz International Airport, welcoming approximately 5.38 million travelers. Following closely behind were King Khalid International Airport with 3.23 million passengers and Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport with 1.04 million travelers. The remaining airports in the Kingdom collectively saw 2.85 million passengers pass through their gates.
Expanding Aviation Sector
February saw further growth in Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector as the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) reiterated its commitment to expanding air connectivity to over 250 destinations. In a session at the third symposium organized by the Riyadh Economic Forum, Mohammed Al-Khuraisi, the executive vice president of strategy and business intelligence at GACA, discussed the National Aviation Strategy’s objectives. This strategy aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, aiming to elevate the Kingdom’s aviation sector to the top in the Middle East region.
Future Goals
Al-Khuraisi emphasized key goals of the strategy, including enhancing airport infrastructure and operational procedures, increasing the market share of low-cost airlines, and boosting the competitiveness of national carriers. With a focus on achieving the ambitious targets set by Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s aviation sector is on a path toward greater success and prominence in the region.