Ashraf AboArafe
Air traffic statistics issued by the General Authority of Civil Aviation revealed a growth in the number of passengers and flights during the first half of the year 2024 AD compared to the same period in 2023 AD.
Statistics showed that the number of passengers increased by 17% during the past six months to record about 62 million passengers, compared to 53 million passengers during the same period last year, while the number of flights reached approximately 446 thousand flights, an increase of 12% compared to the same period last year, which It reached 399 thousand flights. In addition, the volume of air freight in the first six months of 2024 witnessed an increase of 41%. To reach 606 thousand tons, compared to 430 thousand tons in the same period in 2023 AD.
In the same context, the General Authority of Civil Aviation launched several development projects during the first half of this year, including the Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport development and expansion project, the inauguration of the development and expansion of Al-Ahsa International Airport, the inauguration of the new additional international terminal at Taif International Airport, and the launch of the taxi experience. Self-driving air traffic for the first time during the Hajj season, and the first operational permit was granted to clean buildings using drones, which embodies the authority’s commitment to enabling safe and innovative advanced air mobility solutions. It also launched the knowledge testing center for aviation personnel, and the first phase of electronic gates at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. .
In terms of the quality of services provided to travelers, the General Authority of Civil Aviation won two gold awards for best customer service and the best government contact center in the Middle East, Africa and Europe, the Consumer Protection Association award for excellence in protecting the rights of travelers, and the ISO 9001 certificate in the quality management system for monitoring aviation safety and sustainability. Environmental.
While the aviation sector has witnessed, during the past six months, several achievements, including 16 Saudi airports obtaining accreditation from the Airports Council International for customer experience for the year 2024, in addition to the Kingdom’s airports continuing their progress within the classification of the best 50 airports in the world, which was stated in the announcement of the results of the “Sky” organization’s evaluation. TRAX is a global organization concerned with evaluating airlines and airports, in which more than 500 airports around the world participated. Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medina won first place as the best regional airport in the Middle East, during the Skytrax World Airport Awards ceremony held. In Frankfurt, Germany, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah achieved the highest rankings on the Airports Council International list for the year 2023 AD, and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam won three Saudi Airport Awards for the year 2023 AD, which included; The Saudi Airports Award for the best airport in the category (5-15) million passengers, the Saudi Airports Award for the best customs inspection area, and the Saudi Airports Award for the best services for people with disabilities.
The Saudi Airlines Group also received two awards for the most advanced airline in the world and the best economy class catering for the year 2024 AD in the Skytrax global classification, and Flynas was crowned the fourth best low-cost airline in the world for the second time in a row and first in the Middle East for the seventh time in a row. According to Skytrax, which is the most important global standard for measuring the performance of airlines.
These achievements come within the framework of the initiatives and programs launched by the Authority to contribute to the development of the air transport industry locally, regionally and internationally, in several fields in accordance with the latest international systems and standards, based on and derived from the national strategy for the civil aviation sector, which aims to enable the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to become the aviation sector in the Kingdom. The first sector in the Middle East region, reaching 330 million passengers, raising the air cargo capacity to 4.5 million tons, and raising the level of air connectivity to reach 250 destinations to and from the Kingdom’s airports by the year 2030 AD.
