Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector has achieved new record-breaking milestones, with 103.1m passengers travelling through the Kingdom’s airports and total flight movements reaching 713,000 between January and September 2025, according to the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).
The figures represent a 9 per cent increase in passenger traffic and a 5 per cent rise in flight movements, reinforcing the Kingdom’s expanding global air network — now connecting to more than 170 destinations worldwide.
These results underscore the sector’s growing contribution to Vision 2030 and the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS), which position aviation as a key enabler of Saudi Arabia’s diversification and global connectivity ambitions.
Saudi aviation record
The record figures were revealed during the 18th Aviation Program Steering Committee (SteerCo) meeting, chaired by Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, President of GACA. Ahmed Al-Hassan, Assistant Minister of Transport and Logistics, also attended the session, which was organised by Saudia Cargo CEO Loay Mashabi.
Between January and September 2025, Saudi airports handled 866,000 tons of air cargo, including 567,000 tons of origin-and-destination freight and 299,000 tons of transit cargo.
Saudia Cargo continued to expand its international network through partnerships with TAM Group, WFS, Cainiao, China Cargo Airlines, and FedEx, strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position as a global logistics and air freight hub.
Saudi Arabia re-elected to ICAO Council
The Kingdom’s re-election to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council for the 2026–2028 term, securing 175 votes out of 184, marked another key milestone.
The result highlights the global aviation community’s confidence in Saudi Arabia’s leadership, safety record, and proactive role in advancing sustainable and secure air transport.
Abdulaziz Al-Duailej said: “Saudi aviation is delivering sustained passenger and connectivity growth in support of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 agenda, providing unprecedented investment opportunities for the global aviation sector.
“The recent ICAO Council re-election result reflects the constructive global leadership role Saudi Arabia is playing in aviation, strengthening international partnerships to deliver greater global connectivity and economic prosperity.”
Private aviation and logistics zones
The 18th SteerCo also reviewed advancements in charter and private aviation, with VistaJet becoming the first international private operator authorised to conduct domestic flights within Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, the Kingdom’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) — developed to accelerate air logistics — have continued to progress rapidly.
The Riyadh Integrated Logistics Zone (SILZ) now hosts several prominent tenants across technology, retail, and logistics, including:
- Apple
- SHEIN
- Lenovo
- Bahri
- Chalhoub Group
- Sapphire
- iHerb
These initiatives reflect Saudi Arabia’s strategy to position itself as a global aviation and logistics powerhouse, leveraging its strategic location and infrastructure investments to attract international operators and investors.
Follow us on
