Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, president of Saudi’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), announced a 20 percent increase in passenger travel figures in the Kingdom this year. This growth follows a record-breaking 26 percent surge last year, bringing the total number of passengers to 111 million. The increase is attributed to Saudi Arabia’s robust aviation connectivity program, which expanded connectivity by 48 percent in 2023, adding 148 new destinations worldwide. Furthermore, low-cost carriers have significantly increased their international market share since the pandemic.
Launching GACA’s first aviation report
In his keynote speech at the Future Aviation Forum 2024, Al-Duailej stated that GACA was proud to launch its first aviation report, which highlighted the sector’s achievements and contributions to the Saudi economy. He expressed that this forum, with its diverse and insightful topics, would undoubtedly foster growth and collaboration within the sector as they laid the groundwork for the safe and sustainable development of the advanced air transport sector.
Additionally, Al-Duailej emphasized 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 over 37 million last year.
Ambitious objectives for the sector
Moreover, Al-Duailej outlined key objectives for the sector, including expanding the number of destinations to over 250, boosting cargo capacity to 4.5 million tons annually, and increasing passenger traffic to 330 million. He highlighted the implementation of numerous economic reforms to create an attractive investment environment for the sector, unlocking significant economic potential.
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