King Khalid Airport launches development plan to increase capacity to 56 million

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King Khalid International Airport announced the launch of a comprehensive and extensive development process aimed at modernizing the terminal transfer system (mechanisms for moving between terminals), in a strategic step aimed at bringing about a qualitative shift in operational efficiency and speeding up travel procedures, in order to ensure a smoother and more comfortable experience for arriving, departing and transit passengers.

Details of the first phase and timeline

According to the official announcement, the first phase of this development process is scheduled to take place between February 16 and 25. This phase focuses primarily on three key areas that form the backbone of the airport's operations:

Improving the operational efficiency of the existing infrastructure.
Facilitating the traveler's journey and reducing waiting and travel times.
Facilitating transit and connecting domestic, international and national flights.

Strategic context: Vision 2030 and the aviation sector

This step is not isolated from the Kingdom's general direction, but rather falls within the framework of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy stemming from the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to make the Kingdom a global logistics hub connecting three continents. King Khalid International Airport is the main air gateway to the heart of the Kingdom, making it a cornerstone in achieving the objectives of the National Aviation Strategy, which aspires to reach 330 million passengers annually by 2030.

This development is also of particular importance with the ongoing preparations for the launch of the new national carrier, "Riyadh Airlines," which calls for maximum readiness in the airport's infrastructure to accommodate the expected increase in traffic and enhance Riyadh's position as a global destination for business and tourism.

Digital goals: A leap in capacity

The airport management revealed ambitious figures reflecting the expected impact of the development process, with key objectives including the following:

A surge in passenger numbers: The total capacity for transfers is expected to increase from 42 million passengers in 2025 to 56 million passengers by the end of 2026.
Record growth: 33% increase in operational capacity compared to the previous year, reflecting the rapid pace of development.
Supporting transit tourism: Facilitating the movement of passengers on connecting (transit) flights, where the number of beneficiaries of these improvements is expected to reach about 7.5 million passengers , which enhances the airport’s regional competitiveness.
Reducing distances: Re-engineering the flow of movement to reduce distances between halls, thus reducing the effort and time spent moving around internally.

Commitment to quality and the future

King Khalid International Airport management confirmed that these improvements are part of a broader and ongoing plan to develop the infrastructure and ensure the provision of services that meet global standards, which contributes to leaving a lasting positive impression on visitors to the Kingdom from the moment they arrive.