Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has released its September report detailing the performance of both domestic and international airports across Saudi Arabia. The evaluation of airports is based on 11 operational performance standards, which are designed to align with strategic goals aimed at improving services and ensuring a smooth travel experience at airports throughout the Kingdom.
Top performers in airport rankings
In this report, King Khalid International Airport, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Airport in Jizan, Al-Ahsa International Airport, and Gurayat Airport received high rankings. GACA employs a transparent method for performance evaluation by categorizing airports according to their annual passenger volumes.
Compliance rates of major airports
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh topped the list for airports that serve more than 15 million passengers yearly, achieving an 82 percent compliance rate. Close behind was King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, with a compliance rate of 73 percent.
Success in the 2 to 5 million passenger category
In the category for international airports servicing between 5 to 15 million passengers annually, King Fahd International Airport shared first place with Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, both achieving a 91 percent compliance rate.
For airports accommodating between 2 to 5 million passengers annually, both King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Airport in Jizan and Abha International Airport reported a 100 percent compliance rate. However, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Airport surpassed Abha International in meeting higher targets set in the evaluation criteria.
Achievements of airports with fewer than 2 million passengers
Al-Ahsa International Airport, in the category of airports with fewer than 2 million passengers annually, also secured a 100 percent compliance rate, excelling in average waiting times for both departing and arriving flights.
Leading domestic airport performance
Gurayat Airport led the domestic category with a 100 percent compliance rate, outperforming its peers in average waiting times for departures and arrivals. GACA’s assessment criteria focus on critical passenger interactions, including check-in, security, passport control, customs, baggage claim, and assistance for passengers with reduced mobility (PRM). These metrics are designed to ensure a smooth and efficient travel experience, in line with international best practices.
Future plans for a national airline
Saudi Arabia is poised to unveil a new national airline in 2024, as part of its ambitious strategy to connect with 250 global destinations by 2030. This announcement was made by Awad Al-Sulami, executive vice president for Economic Policies and Logistics Services at GACA, during the Future Aviation Forum.
The Future Aviation Forum (FAF 2024) was held in May in Riyadh, under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and focused on the theme “Elevating Global Connectivity.” The forum aimed to enhance aviation partnerships on a global scale, foster innovation, promote sustainable air travel, and encourage cultural exchange.
Read more: Future Aviation Forum 2024 seals 47 agreements worth $19 billion
Growth in Saudi Arabia’s services exports
In 2023, Saudi Arabia’s services exports exceeded expectations, achieving a remarkable 40 percent increase to reach SAR182 billion ($48.52 billion), according to preliminary data. The recovery of the travel sector played a significant role in this growth, accounting for 74 percent of total services exports at SAR135 billion. The transport sector followed with SAR24.2 billion in exports, while telecommunications contributed SAR6.3 billion.
Expansion of the telecommunications and IT market
The telecommunications and information technology market has seen substantial growth, surpassing SAR91 billion in value in 2022. Additionally, the number of digital startups in the country increased by 13 percent, and the local content ratio in the technology sector exceeded 28 percent.
Role of Saudi Exports in market penetration
To capitalize on the rise in services exports, the Saudi Export Development Authority (Saudi Exports) has been instrumental in helping Saudi services penetrate new markets and expand their reach. This initiative supports national objectives and boosts the share of non-oil exports.
Introduction of the ‘Saudi Technology’ label
In 2023, Saudi Exports introduced the ‘Saudi Technology’ label as a sub-brand of the ‘Saudi Made’ program, aimed at supporting national tech products and companies while promoting them both locally and internationally. The initiative offers essential services for service exporters to connect with importers, either through Saudi Exports or in collaboration with relevant organizations, thereby facilitating the export process and addressing exporters’ challenges.
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