Saudi Arabia’s President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Abdulaziz Al Duailej, announced a remarkable 20 per cent increase in passenger travel figures in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia this year.
This growth follows a record-breaking 26 per cent surge last year, bringing the total number of passengers to 111m.
The increase is attributed to the Kingdom’s robust aviation connectivity program, which expanded connectivity by 48 per cent in 2023, adding 148 new destinations worldwide.
Saudi aviation
Furthermore, low-cost carriers have significantly increased their international market share since the pandemic.
During his keynote speech at the Future Aviation Forum 2024, Al Duailej said: “We are proud to launch GACA’s first aviation report, which highlights the sector’s achievements and contributions to the Saudi economy.
“This forum, with its diverse and insightful topics, will undoubtedly foster growth and collaboration within the sector as we lay the groundwork for the safe and sustainable development of the advanced air transport sector.”
He emphasised the remarkable transformation of the aviation industry in recent years, surpassing any other industry in history, with the number of flights increasing from zero to more than 37m last year.
Al Duailej outlined key objectives for the sector, including expanding the number of destinations to more than 250, boosting cargo capacity to 4.5m tons annually, and increasing passenger traffic to 330m.
He highlighted the implementation of numerous economic reforms to create an attractive investment environment for the sector, unlocking significant economic potential.
He also noted that the National Aviation Strategy heavily relies on other national strategies.
Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al Jasser stressed that the core of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy is based on transforming the Kingdom into a global logistics hub that leverages its strategic geographical location at the crossroads of three continents.
Al Jasser made his remarks during a panel discussion titled “Connectivity and Investment from Now to Next”.
Al Jasser said: “The strategy entails improving the Kingdom’s logistical performance to become one of the top 10 countries in the world, and it aims to achieve growth in air, sea, and land transport”.
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