Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) in Riyadh has achieved the highest operational performance rating among Saudi Arabian airports for the month of September, according to a recent report from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). With an impressive compliance rate of 82 percent, KKIA continues to set the standard for excellence in air travel across the Kingdom. GACA evaluates the performance of airports based on 11 operational standards designed to enhance services and improve the overall traveller experience. The assessment process takes into account annual passenger numbers, ensuring a fair and transparent evaluation across the board, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Leading the category of international airports, KKIA handles over 15 million passengers annually. Following closely is King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, which recorded a compliance rate of 73 percent for the same category. Meanwhile, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and Prince Mohammad bin Abdul Aziz International Airport in Madinah have demonstrated commendable performance, boasting the highest compliance rates among international airports with between five and 15 million passengers. In the lower passenger categories, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jizan and Abha International Airport both achieved a perfect compliance rate of 100 percent, serving between two and five million passengers.
Similarly, Al Ahsa International Airport, which caters to fewer than two million passengers, also scored a flawless compliance rate, excelling in average waiting times for both departure and arrival flights. In the domestic airport segment, Gurayat Airport emerged as the leader, outperforming its competitors in average waiting times for departing and arriving flights. The aviation sector in Saudi Arabia has seen significant growth, with a 17 percent increase in passenger air traffic in the first half of 2023, rising from 53 million to 62 million passengers when compared to the same period last year.
This surge aligns with the Kingdom’s National Aviation Strategy, which aims to enhance air connectivity to 250 destinations, accommodate 330 million passengers, and double air cargo capacity to 4.5 million tons by 2030. As King Khalid International Airport continues to lead the way, its commitment to passenger satisfaction and operational excellence sets a benchmark for all Saudi airports, further solidifying the Kingdom's ambitions in the global aviation industry.