Saudi Arabia recently announced the new identity and master plan for King Fahd International Airport, along with the master plans for Al-Ahsa and Al-Qaisumah international airports.
The Kingdom also marked the launch of the Dammam Airports Strategy and a package of integrated development projects valued at more than SAR1.6 billion ($426.5 million), including 77 infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and improving the passenger experience.
New national low-cost carrier announced
During the launch ceremony, a new national low-cost carrier, Air Arabia, was announced to be based at King Fahd International Airport. The new low-cost carrier aims to operate 24 domestic and 57 international destinations with 45 aircraft by 2030, aiming to serve around 10 million passengers annually from Dammam and the Eastern Province.
The project will also create over 2,400 direct jobs, contribute to GDP growth targets under the aviation program, and support economic development and tourism in Dammam and Eastern Region. The alliance is expected to complete licensing procedures and begin operations in 2026.
A consortium comprising Air Arabia, Nesma Group and KUN Holding announced on Sunday that it had won the General Authority of Civil Aviation’s (GACA) competition to establish and operate the new national low-cost airline.
The Eastern Region’s Governor, Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, also inaugurated the airport’s new electronic gates for passenger processing.
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Airport to serve more than 19.3 million passengers annually by 2030
The strategic master plan aims to accommodate more than 19.3 million passengers annually at King Fahd International Airport by 2030, doubling the number served in 2022. It also seeks to expand air cargo capacity to over 600,000 tons per year, a 1,000 percent increase, positioning the airport as a key regional logistics hub in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
Future developments also include a record-breaking expansion of the airport’s operational capacity, increasing aircraft movements to 77 per hour and boosting annual passenger capacity to 32 million.
Additional projects include comprehensive upgrades to general aviation facilities and infrastructure to meet the highest international standards. By the end of 2024, King Fahd International Airport had recorded a 35 percent increase in passenger traffic compared to 2022.
