RIYADH. Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector soared to unprecedented heights in 2024, with 128 million passengers traversing its airports—59 million on domestic flights and 69 million on international routes—according to the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). The milestone marks a 15% year-on-year surge and a 25% jump from pre-pandemic levels, cementing the kingdom’s recovery as a global aviation powerhouse.
Key Figures & Growth Drivers
- Passenger Traffic: 128 million travelers in 2024 (domestic: 59M; international: 69M).
- Flight Operations: 905,000 flights (+11% YoY), including 474,000 domestic and 431,000 international.
- Air Connectivity: Links to 170+ global destinations, up 16% from 2023.
- Cargo Boom: 1.2 million tons of air freight handled (+34% YoY), led by Riyadh’s King Khalid Airport (573K tons), Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz Airport (461K tons), and Dammam’s King Fahd Airport (140K tons).
Airport Dominance & Hajj Surge
Saudi Arabia’s four major hubs—Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Madinah—accounted for 82% of total air traffic, underscoring their strategic role in the kingdom’s Vision 2030 diversification plans. During the 2024 Hajj season (May 9–July 21), 1.5 million pilgrims arrived by air, representing 40% of all international travelers in that period.
Global Route Rankings & Strategic Ambitions
The Jeddah-Riyadh route saw the world’s largest domestic capacity growth in 2024, per travel data leader OAG, while Cairo-Jeddah emerged as the second-busiest international route globally. These achievements align with Saudi Arabia’s push to become a top-five global air transit hub by 2030.
The aviation boom mirrors Saudi Arabia’s aggressive infrastructure investments, including the $147 billion Saudi Air Connectivity Program. With air cargo volumes now exceeding 1.17 million tons at its three largest airports, the kingdom is positioning itself as a critical logistics corridor between Asia, Africa, and Europe.
- Saudi aviation growth 2024: 128M passengers, 34% cargo surge.
- Busiest Saudi airports: Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam handle 1.17M tons of freight.
- Top global routes: Jeddah-Riyadh (domestic), Cairo-Jeddah (international).
- Hajj 2024 air traffic: 1.5M pilgrims drive 40% of international arrivals.
Why It Matters: As Saudi Arabia accelerates its Vision 2030 economic reforms, the aviation sector’s record-breaking performance signals its rising influence in global travel and trade. With air connectivity now spanning 170+ destinations, analysts project the kingdom could rival UAE and Qatar as a Middle Eastern aviation titan.
Source: General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) 2024 Air Traffic Report; Data from OAG.