January 9, 2025

 The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announced that the civil aviation sector in Saudi Arabia experienced exceptional growth in 2024, achieving record-breaking milestones in passenger numbers, flight operations, air connectivity, and air cargo volume.

This announcement was made during the 15th meeting of the Steering Committee for the implementation of the Saudi Aviation Strategy, held today in Riyadh. The meeting was attended by His Excellency the Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and Chairman of the Board of Directors of GACA, Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, and chaired by His Excellency the President of GACA, Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej. Also in attendance were His Excellency the Chairman of the Saudi Royal Aviation Board, Mr. Mohammed bin Mazyad Al-Tuwaijri; His Excellency the Assistant Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, Mr. Ahmed Al-Hassan; Assistant Minister for Sports Affairs, Ms. Adwaa bint Abdulrahman Al-Arifi; along with vice presidents, CEOs, officials, and directors representing national airlines and companies operating in the Kingdom’s civil aviation sector.

During the meeting, participants celebrated Saudi Arabia's successful bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. They emphasized the Kingdom’s preparedness to welcome fans, including for other major events such as the 2027 AFC Asian Cup and Expo 2030. The meeting also marked the fourth anniversary of the launch of the Saudi Aviation Strategy.

On this occasion, Eng. Al-Jasser highlighted the substantial support and empowerment the aviation and air transport sector in Saudi Arabia receives from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. He praised the achievements of the Saudi Aviation Strategy, driven by the National Transport and Logistics Strategy.

He explained that preliminary figures for the aviation sector in 2024 showed a 15% increase in passenger numbers, reaching over 128 million passengers—a 24% rise compared to pre-pandemic levels. Flight operations grew by 11%, totaling more than 902,000 flights. Air connectivity expanded by 16%, connecting Saudi Arabia to 172 destinations worldwide. Air cargo volume also witnessed exceptional growth of 34%, surpassing 1 million tons for the first time in 2024.

Al-Jasser congratulated the entire sector on these significant and diverse achievements made possible by the support of the wise leadership. He stressed the importance of complete readiness across all sectors of the transport and logistics system and early preparation for this exceptional event, to deliver a unique Saudi experience.

For his part, the President of GACA stated that the success achieved over the past year is a result of the collaborative efforts of all workers in the sector. He noted that Saudi civil aviation recorded remarkable growth during 2023 and 2024, making significant strides in air connectivity, passenger numbers, and air cargo services.

He said, "This progress reflects the commitment of the Saudi aviation system to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in the aviation sector through the Saudi Aviation Strategy, which is derived from the National Transport and Logistics Strategy."

He pointed out that the aviation sector has achieved unprecedented accomplishments since the Council of Ministers approved the Saudi Aviation Strategyfour years ago. This strategy has been a driving force for transformation, contributing to growth and innovation and reinforcing the sector’s global leadership.

In conclusion, His Excellency described the accomplishments of the strategy over the past four years as exceptional by all standards, affirming the sector’s capability to drive economic growth and enhance air connectivity between Saudi Arabia and the world in the coming decade.

The Kingdom’s civil aviation sector has witnessed remarkable progress since the launch of the Saudi Aviation Strategyfour years ago. This includes the privatization of airports and their transfer to the ownership of the Airports Holding Company, the establishment of Riyadh Air, the launch of the master plan for King Salman International Airport and the master plan for the new Abha International Airport, and the inauguration of the Integrated Logistics Zone in Riyadh—the Kingdom’s first fully integrated special logistics zone.

Additionally, major global companies have been attracted to the zone and granted business licenses, including Apple, Chalhoub Group, iHerb, and Korea's CJ Logistics. The launch of the zone’s digital platform, a new passenger rights regulation, and the largest reform in the aviation sector's economic regulations in 15 years are also among the major achievements. Moreover, the Saudi Civil Aviation Environmental Sustainability Program was launched and activated, along with the release of two roadmaps for Advanced Air Mobility and General Aviation.

Saudi Arabia also achieved a 94.4% score in the aviation security audit, securing seventh place among G20 countries in aviation security and ranking 18th and 13th in international air connectivity over the past two years, compared to 27th place in 2018, according to the Air Connectivity Index report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The 15th Steering Committee meeting for implementing the Saudi Aviation Strategy also witnessed the participation of leaders from the Kingdom’s sports and tourism sectors, including the team responsible for Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the World Cup. Discussions focused on the role of the civil aviation sector in preparing for the Kingdom’s hosting of the 2034 FIFA World Cup and other major global events to be held in Saudi Arabia over the next decade.