King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah has reached a historic milestone, achieving the highest annual operational performance in the history of Saudi airports. In 2024, the airport catered to over 49.1 million passengers, marking a 14 percent increase compared to the previous year.
Additionally, the airport experienced a notable rise in total flights, surpassing 278,000—an 11 percent growth from 2023. It also managed 47.1 million pieces of luggage, reflecting a significant 21 percent increase from the prior year.
Mazen Johar, CEO of Jeddah Airports Company, attributed this surge to the airport’s swift operational expansion, propelled by the vision of the Kingdom’s leadership and the dedicated oversight of the transport sector’s regulatory bodies.
Following a record-setting year in 2023, Saudi Arabia’s airports reported a 17 percent increase in passenger traffic during the first half of 2024, totaling 62 million travelers. The number of flights rose by 12 percent to reach 446,000, while air freight volume surged by 41 percent, amounting to 606,000 tons by the end of June.
Air traffic data released by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) indicated substantial growth in both passenger numbers and flight operations during the first half of 2024.
Read more: Top performing airports in Saudi Arabia highlighted in GACA report
Key developments
In the first half of 2024, GACA initiated several development projects, including:
- Expansion and enhancement of Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport
- Launch of the development and expansion of Al-Ahsa International Airport
- Introduction of a new international departure terminal at Taif International Airport
- Debut of a self-driving air taxi experience during the Hajj season
Moreover, the authority issued the first operating permit for drone-based building cleaning, showcasing its commitment to promoting safe and innovative advanced air mobility solutions. It also established a knowledge-testing center for aviation personnel and rolled out the initial phase of electronic gates at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
Achievements in the aviation sector
Over the past six months, Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector celebrated several accomplishments, with 16 Saudi airports receiving the Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Service Quality (ASQ) accreditation for 2024. Furthermore, Saudi airports continued to ascend in global rankings, with Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah being recognized as the top airport in the Middle East at the Skytrax World Airport Awards. King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah also earned outstanding ratings on the Airports Council International list for 2023.
Additionally, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam garnered three awards at the Saudi Airports Awards for 2023, including recognition for the best airport in the 5-15 million passenger category, the best customs inspection area, and the best services for individuals with disabilities.
Spotlight on Saudi airlines
Saudi Arabia’s airlines took the spotlight in the first half of 2024, clinching multiple international awards. Saudia was recognized as the most advanced airline globally and received the accolade for the best economy-class catering in the Skytrax global ranking for 2024. Meanwhile, Flynas was honored as the fourth-best low-cost airline worldwide for the second consecutive year and the top low-cost airline in the Middle East for the seventh straight year, reflecting a significant global benchmark for airline performance.
These achievements in the aviation sector underscore the progress made through GACA’s initiatives and programs, which aim to develop the industry both locally and internationally in alignment with Saudi Arabia’s National Strategy for the Civil Aviation Sector. This strategy aspires to elevate passenger numbers in Saudi Arabia to 330 million, enhance air freight capacity to 4.5 million tons, and expand air connectivity to 250 destinations from the Kingdom’s airports by 2030.
