Saudi Arabia’s aviation industry marked a significant milestone in 2024 by accommodating over 128 million passengers, reflecting a 15% increase from the previous year and a 25% boost compared to the pre-pandemic era, as per the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).

International travel showed the most considerable increase, with 69 million passengers flying globally, contrasted with 59 million domestic travelers. The primary airports in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Madinah managed 82% of the air traffic.

According to OAG, a British travel data provider, the Jeddah-Riyadh route saw the highest increase in domestic capacity worldwide, while the Cairo-Jeddah route was ranked as the second busiest international route.

Across the kingdom, the total number of flights surged by 11% to 905,000, with domestic routes constituting 474,000 flights and international routes accounting for 431,000. Moreover, Saudi Arabia enhanced its air connections by 16%, reaching over 170 global destinations.

A notable surge in air cargo was recorded, increasing by 34% to exceed 1.2 million tonnes, primarily managed by the three leading airports: King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam.

During the Hajj season, Saudi airports processed an influx of 1.5 million pilgrims, which represented 40% of international arrivals for that period. In alignment with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 initiative aimed at transforming the country into a global aviation hub, the latest figures for air traffic underscore the swift expansion and escalating significance of the kingdom in the international travel scene.