GASTAT Reports Notable Increases In Air Transport Statistics For 2024 Across Saudi Airports

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has published the Air Transport Statistics Publication 2024, revealing significant growth in passenger and cargo traffic at Saudi Arabia's airports compared to 2023. The total number of passengers exceeded 128 million, a 15% rise from the previous year. International passengers surpassed 69 million, marking a 14% increase, while domestic passengers exceeded 59 million, up by 16%.

King Abdulaziz International Airport led in passenger numbers, welcoming around 49 million people with a growth rate of 14%. King Khalid International Airport followed with 37.6 million passengers, reflecting an 18% increase. King Fahd International Airport ranked third, serving 12.8 million passengers with a growth of 15%. On average, domestic flights carried about 162,000 passengers daily, while international flights averaged around 189,000.

Total air cargo volumes reached 1.2 million tons in 2024, showing a substantial increase of 34% compared to the previous year. March saw the highest cargo traffic with a total of 123,000 tons. Outbound cargo accounted for 64,000 tons, inbound cargo was at 720,000 tons, and transit cargo totaled 407,000 tons.

The Kingdom's aircraft fleet expanded to include 361 aircraft in total, representing an increase of 11% from the previous year. The commercial aviation sector had the largest share with 258 aircraft, marking a growth of 12%, and included planes with capacities exceeding 250 passengers totaling to 97 aircraft. The general aviation fleet comprised of 103 aircrafts which is a rise of about seven percent.

Annual Data Release

GASTAT releases this publication annually to support development efforts within the air transport industry by providing accurate data on passenger movement and cargo operations across both commercial and general aviation sectors. This comprehensive data aids in understanding trends and planning future developments in Saudi Arabia's air transport system.

With inputs from SPA