Saudi Arabia Sets Ambitious Targets for Aviation Sector
In an exclusive interview with Arab News at the Future Aviation Forum in Riyadh, Abdulaziz Al-Dahmash, Vice President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation for Quality and Traveler Experience, revealed Saudi Arabia’s ambitious objectives in the aviation sector.
Tripling Passenger Numbers and Expanding Flight Routes
The Kingdom aims to triple the number of passengers, handle 4.5 million tonnes of cargo, and establish over 250 direct destinations from Saudi Arabia’s airports to global locations. These targets are part of the country’s comprehensive aviation strategy, which includes enhancing passenger experience as a key pillar.
Improving Passenger Experience
Al-Dahmash highlighted four sub-programs focusing on reducing waiting times, gathering traveler feedback, ensuring infrastructure readiness, and addressing passengers’ complaints to enhance the overall passenger experience. These initiatives have already shown significant progress since 2019.
Massive Economic Opportunity
The investment in the aviation sector presents a substantial economic opportunity amounting to $100 billion, with half of the investment dedicated to developing airport infrastructure. Mohammed Al-Khuraisi, the executive vice president of strategy and business intelligence at GACA, emphasized the massive expansion projects underway at King Salman Airport and Jeddah Airport, as well as significant investments in commercial airlines.
Air Connectivity Expansion
Ali Rajab, executive vice president of air transport and international cooperation at GACA, discussed Saudi Arabia’s plans to increase the number of destinations served by the country’s airports. By 2030, the Kingdom aims to have 250 destinations connected to Saudi Arabia, up from 99 in 2019. The focus on air connectivity is essential for positioning Saudi Arabia as a leading country in aviation by 2030.