Saudi Arabia's Airports See 7% Rise in Air Cargo, 26% Increase in Passengers in 2023: GACA Report
In 2023, airports in Saudi Arabia handled 918,000 tonnes of air cargo, a 7% increase from the previous year.
The aviation sector in the Kingdom strongly rebounded, with passenger transportation increasing by 26% to 112 million passengers, a 8% rise compared to 2019.
The number of flights through Saudi Arabian airports reached about 815,000, a 16% increase from 2022.
In total, there were 394,000 international and 421,000 domestic journeys handled by the airports.
In 2023, Saudi Arabia's travel and tourism sector experienced substantial growth, with 61 million international visitors and 51 million domestic passengers passing through the region's airports.
King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) led the way with 30 flights per hour, followed by King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh (27 flights per hour) and King Fahd International Airport.
Saudi Arabia's aviation sector continued to expand rapidly, aiming for 250 global destinations, and the country jumped 14 places in the International Air Transport Association Air Connectivity Index, reaching 149 destinations and the highest level of air connectivity during the year.
GACA, the Saudi Arabian civil aviation authority, has granted China Southern Airlines permission to fly between Riyadh and three cities in China: Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.
This move is part of GACA's ongoing efforts to expand the Kingdom's air transport network in line with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.
China Southern Airlines will now operate flights between these cities and Riyadh.