RIYADH: Saudi airports welcomed 103.1 million passengers between January and September 2025, marking a 9 percent increase compared to the same period last year, official data showed.
According to the General Authority of Civil Aviation, total flight movements reached 713,000, up 5 percent, expanding connectivity across more than 170 destinations.
Strengthening the aviation industry is a key goal under Vision 2030, as the Kingdom works to position itself as a global tourism and business hub by the end of the decade.
A key objective of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy is to raise the sector’s contribution to the Kingdom’s gross domestic product from 6 percent in 2021 to 10 percent by 2030, boosting annual non-oil revenues by about SR45 billion ($11.9 billion).
Commenting on the latest figures, Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, president of GACA, said: “Saudi aviation is delivering sustained passenger and connectivity growth in support of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 agenda, providing unprecedented investment opportunities for the global aviation sector.”
Between January and September, Saudi airports handled 866,000 tonnes of air cargo, including 567,000 tonnes of origin-and-destination freight and 299,000 tonnes of transit cargo.
The Kingdom’s re-election to the International Civil Aviation Organization Council for the 2026–2028 term reflects the strong progress achieved in the sector.
“The recent ICAO Council re-election result reflects the constructive global leadership role Saudi Arabia is playing in aviation, strengthening international partnerships to deliver greater global connectivity and economic prosperity,” added Al-Duailej.
The latest figures were shared during the 18th Aviation Program Steering Committee meeting, chaired by Al-Duailej and attended by Ahmed S. Al-Hassan, assistant minister of Transport and Logistics Services.
The committee also reviewed progress in the charter and private aviation sector, with VistaJet becoming the first international private operator authorized to conduct domestic flights in the Kingdom.
