GACA: Hail airport proved successful as a "hub airport" and raised its flights to 113

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Riyadh, 12 February 2018
The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announced that Hail's main airport has witnessed a growth in the number of passengers and domestic flights, one year after the operation of the airport, by 38% and 113% consecutively.
 
The number of passengers on domestic flights through the airport since the start of the pivotal operation in October 2016 until October 2017 amounted to 925,082 passengers, up to 38% compared to the same period of 2016, while domestic flights increased by 113% to 13.413 Compared to 6.298 flights during the same period last year, GACA stated .
 
The assistant to GACA President for Economic Policies and Air Transport, Tariq bin Al-Dabbib said that, the statistics recorded for Hail airport and the large increase in the number of passengers and to the number of domestic flights after one year of operation of the airport as a hub destination for the Northern Airports. This reflected on the level of success of the strategy and initiative of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, which relied on linking the regions and cities of the Kingdom to each other.
 
Al-Dabbib state that the initiative aimed to facilitating the air traffic of citizens and residents in the northern sector. It came within the framework of a hub airports project which was implemented by the Authority to support the air traffic and provide wide options for passengers.
 The assistant to GACA President for economic policies and air transport confirm that, "The air transport industry in the Kingdom is witnessing development, prosperity and great growth, which reflects on the increasing demand for air transport in the Kingdom. He also praised the development of air services at Hail airport, which the latest statistics confirm the success of the General Civil Aviation Authority's experience in transforming Hail airport into a hub airport serving the northern region, linking it with major airports and providing citizens and residents with several options to reach various domestic and international destinations.
 
Stressing that the General Authority of Civil Aviation is seeking to make a qualitative leap and provide better options for passengers and more capacity for seats to keep pace with the volume of demand in the air transport market in the Kingdom.
 
Al-Dabbib noted that, such initiatives contribute significantly to achieving more competitions in the provision of services related to the air transport market in the Kingdom and achieve the required balance between supply and demand. This will positively affect the services and benefits provided to passengers, such as providing more flights and seats, and improve the travel procedures, which will contribute to a positive change in the level of air transport services.  All mentioned come in line with the vision of the Kingdom of 2030, which aims at achieving comprehensive development and building a strong and sustainable economy.
 
It is indicated that GACA has operated Hail airport as a hub airport serving the northern regions of the Kingdom, and the operation of Abha airport as a hub airport serving the southern region, as part of the project "Watani" of the hub airports, with the aim of developing the air transport system in the Kingdom.  All in an effort in finding suitable practical solutions to provide air transport service to all parts of the country, providing a wide choice for passengers and improving the quality of services provided at airports by giving passengers the possibility to choose their destinations through the hub airports that have increased the number of flights to and from major airports.