Saudi Arabia has recorded a 17 per cent rise in passenger air traffic over the first six months of 2024, to 62 million compared to 53 million in the same period last year, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
The number of flights reached approximately 446 thousand flights, an increase of 12% compared to the same period last year, which reached 399 thousand flights.
In addition, the volume of air freight in the first six months of 2024 witnessed an increase of 41%. To reach 606 thousand tons, compared to 430 thousand tons in the same period in 2023.
Passenger Air Traffic
The General Authority of Civil Aviation launched several projects this year: the development and expansion of Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport, the opening of Al-Ahsa International Airport’s expansion, and the new international terminal at Taif International Airport. They also issued the first operational permit for cleaning buildings with drones.
Additionally, they inaugurated a knowledge testing centre for aviation personnel and initiated the first phase of electronic gates at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
In terms of the quality of services provided to travellers, the General Authority of Civil Aviation won two gold awards for best customer service and best government contact centre in the Middle East, Africa and Europe, the Consumer Protection Association award for excellence in protecting the rights of travellers. It also won the ISO 9001 certificate in the quality management system for monitoring aviation safety and sustainability environmental.
Saudi Airports’ Global Accolades
Over the past six months, the aviation sector achieved notable milestones. Sixteen Saudi airports received accreditation from the Airports Council International for customer experience in 2024. Saudi airports also continued to rank among the world’s top 50, according to the Sky organization. Medina’s Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport was awarded the best regional airport in the Middle East at the Skytrax World Airport Awards ceremony held in Frankfurt, Germany.
King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah topped the Airports Council International rankings for 2023. King Fahd International Airport in Dammam won three Saudi Airport Awards in 2023, including Best Airport (5-15 million passengers), Best Customs Inspection Area, and Best Services for People with Disabilities.
Airline Industry Achievements
The Saudi Airlines Group won awards for the most advanced airline and best economy class catering in the 2024 global Skytrax rankings. Additionally, Flynas was named the fourth-best low-cost airline globally for the second consecutive year and the top in the Middle East for the seventh consecutive year, according to Skytrax.
The achievements are part of initiatives and programs launched by the Authority to develop the air transport industry locally, regionally, and internationally. They align with international standards and the National Strategy for the Civil Aviation Sector. This strategy supports the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 for aviation, aiming to make it a leading sector in the Middle East. Furthermore, goals include accommodating 330 million passengers, increasing air cargo capacity to 4.5 million tons, and expanding air connectivity to 250 destinations by 2030.
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