Saudi Arabia Implements Expansion Arrangements to Cater Middle Eastern Traffic

Saudi Arabia is currently undergoing an overall face-lift in terms of expanding its capacity to attend to commercial aviation traffic. The country has distributed its investments in this regard to contributing to the growth of capacity in every region within its perimeters. Along with expanding its major international hubs which are already shouldering the bulk of passenger load for Saudi Arabia, a new growth strategy is being devised. The increase in potential is being distributed among other regional and domestic airports as well, converting domestic airports into international airports while forming more route linkages in terms of connectivity.

The maximum stakes are being banked upon Riyadh, whose airport will be developed to welcome 35 million passengers a year. An entire 5th terminal is included in its plan for higher access to flights. Jeddah will be expanded to attend to 30 million passengers accordingly, with it’s trial basis planned to complete by 2015.

Along with the previous 4 international airports, namely Medina, Jeddah, Dammam and Riyadh, 8 other domestic airports are being upgraded with their status to become international airports as well. To the south, Abha and Najran; to the north, Hail and Tabouk; to the west, Taif and Yanbu; to the east, there’s Ihsa, along with Alqasseem in Central Arabia which are going to have their capacities increased for international passenger traffic.

Majority of these airports have been operating on a regional status rather than a domestic one to date. Abha will have the space to handle 5 million passengers and Jazan’s King Abdullah International Airport will be improved to accommodate 4 million passengers. Alqasseem will be developed to allow 2.5 million passengers per year.

The initiative has been taken under the limelight of Saudi Arabia starting to open up its tourism industry for the global market. The country has remained highly conservative with respect to religious custom, holding back non-muslim tourists in many designated regions. It hosts Muslims all over the globe around the year for performing pilgrimage over its holy sites situated among Makkah and Medinah, which makes Jeddah the main airport in the country for serving these two cities.