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Saudi Arabia’s airports reported a remarkable surge in passenger traffic and air cargo movement in 2023, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) in its 2023 Air Transport Statistics report.

Passenger Traffic Soars to 112m

The number of passengers traveling through Saudi Arabia’s airports reached 112m in 2023, a significant 26% increase over 2022. International travel witnessed a particularly strong rebound, with passenger numbers jumping 46% year-on-year to reach 61m in 2023. Domestic travel also saw healthy growth, with 51m passengers in 2023, a 9% increase over 2022.

Flight Activity and Air Freight Movement on the Rise

The report highlighted a corresponding rise in flight activity, with international flights reaching approximately 394,000 in 2023, a 36% increase over 2022. Domestic flights also saw a slight rise, reaching 421,000 flights in 2023, a 2% year-on-year increase. Air freight movement also saw positive growth, with a total cargo quantity of 918,000 tons in 2023, a 7% increase over the previous year. December saw the highest recorded cargo volume, reaching 93,000 tons.

Improved Air Connectivity and Passenger Capacity

The report showed significant improvement in Saudi Arabia’s international air connectivity. The Kingdom climbed nine places in global rankings, reaching 18th place in 2023 compared to 2019. The number of destinations accessible from Saudi airports reached 148 in 2023, a 47% increase from the previous year. The total passenger capacity across all Saudi airports has reached 116m passengers annually, with King Abdulaziz International Airport topping the list with a capacity of 45m passengers annually, followed by King Khalid International Airport at 37m and King Fahad International Airport at 13m.

By analyzing the data, it’s clear that Saudi Arabia’s airports are experiencing remarkable growth, and this trend is expected to continue in the coming years.