Key points
- Saudi Arabia is now linked to more than 170 destinations worldwide
- Air cargo operations surpass 1.2 million tons in 2024
- Air connectivity also expanded by 16pc
ISLAMABAD: Saudi airports handled a record 128 million travellers in 2024, marking a 15 per cent increase from the previous year and a 25 per cent rise compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to the Air Traffic 2024 Report released by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).
According to Saudi Gazette, the report highlighted the continued recovery and growth of the aviation sector, with 59 million passengers traveling on domestic flights and 69 million on international routes.
Expansion in air connectivity
The number of flights operating through Saudi airports rose by 11 per cent compared to 2023, reaching a total of 905,000 flights, including 474,000 domestic and 431,000 international flights.
Air connectivity also expanded by 16 per cent, with the Kingdom now linked to more than 170 destinations worldwide.
Air cargo operations experienced significant growth, increasing by 34 per cent to surpass 1.2 million tons in 2024.
The majority of this cargo, totalling 1.17 million tons, was handled by the Kingdom’s three largest airports: King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh processed 573,000 tons, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah managed 461,000 tons, and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam handled 140,000 tons. The four main airports in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Madinah accounted for 82 per cent of total air traffic.
Notable surge
During the Hajj season, which extended from May 9 to July 21, air traffic saw a notable surge, with 1.5 million pilgrims arriving in the Kingdom. This figure represented 40 per cent of all international travellers during that period.
According to the British global travel data provider OAG, the Jeddah-Riyadh route recorded the largest increase in capacity globally among domestic routes in 2024, while the Cairo-Jeddah route ranked as the second busiest international route worldwide.
