Dammam Airports Company has announced an increase in air traffic at King Fahd International Airport during the latter half of 2024. Passenger statistics indicate that King Fahd International Airport welcomed 12 million travelers from January to mid-December 2024, achieving a new milestone and reflecting a 15 percent growth compared to the same timeframe in 2023.
In terms of flight operations, the airport recorded an all-time high with over 99,000 flights during the same period, marking a 5 percent rise over the previous year.
Furthermore, the airport established new daily records, exceeding 50,000 passengers in a single day, a significant peak in daily traffic since its inception.
Moreover, on June 13, 2024, the airport experienced a record daily air traffic volume, with 374 flights conducted that day.
Read more: Top performing airports in Saudi Arabia highlighted in GACA report
National trends in air travel
Following a record-breaking year in 2023, Saudi Arabia’s airports recorded a 17 percent increase in passenger numbers during the first half of 2024, reaching 62 million. The number of flights also saw a 12 percent rise, totaling 446,000, while air freight volume surged by 41 percent, reaching 606,000 tons by the end of June.
Development initiatives by GACA
In the first half of 2024, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) initiated several development projects, which included:
- The expansion and enhancement of Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport
- The inauguration of the development and expansion of Al-Ahsa International Airport
- The launch of a new international departure terminal at Taif International Airport
- The introduction of a self-driving air taxi experience for the first time during the Hajj season
Additionally, the authority issued the first operational permit for drone-assisted building cleaning, demonstrating its commitment to fostering safe and innovative advanced air mobility solutions. Furthermore, a knowledge-testing center for aviation personnel was established, along with the first phase of electronic gates at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
Achievements in the Saudi aviation sector
The last six months have also seen significant accomplishments in Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector, with 16 airports receiving the Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Service Quality (ASQ) accreditation for 2024. Saudi Arabian airports are making strides in their rankings, placing among the top 50 airports globally, as reported by Skytrax
Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah claimed the top spot in the Middle East at the Skytrax World Airport Awards, while King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah received the highest ratings on the Airports Council International list for 2023.
Also, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam secured three awards at the Saudi Airports Awards for 2023, including accolades 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 have also gained recognition, winning multiple global awards during the first half of 2024. Saudia was honored for being the most advanced airline worldwide and for offering the best economy-class catering in the Skytrax global rankings for 2024.
In addition, flynas was recognized as the fourth-best low-cost airline globally for the second consecutive year and the top low-cost airline in the Middle East for the seventh year running, marking a significant achievement in airline performance measurement.
Future aspirations for the Saudi aviation sector
These accomplishments in the aviation sector underscore the progress of GACA’s initiatives and programs aimed at advancing the industry both domestically and internationally, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s National Strategy for the Civil Aviation Sector.
This strategy aspires to boost passenger numbers in the Kingdom to 330 million, expand air freight capacity to 4.5 million tons, and enhance air connectivity to 250 destinations linked to and from Saudi Arabian airports by 2030.
