Saudi Arabia’s airports witnessed a notable surge in passenger traffic in 2025, with the total number reaching 140.9 million, marking a 9.6 percent increase from the previous year, according to the latest figures. International travelers formed a substantial portion, totaling 75.8 million, which is a 9.4 percent rise compared to 2024, while domestic passengers increased by 9.8 percent, reaching 65.1 million. This growth aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to transform the nation into a pivotal global aviation and tourism hub, pushing its previous target of 100 million annual tourists to a new goal of 150 million by the decade’s end.
The expansion of the Kingdom’s aviation sector has continued despite regional tensions, particularly the conflict involving Iran that led to airspace closures and flight cancellations throughout parts of the Middle East. During the period between Ramadan 1 and Shawwal 9, which corresponds to February 18 to March 28, Saudi airports managed to handle over 12.1 million passengers, showcasing their operational resilience. King Abdulaziz International Airport emerged as the busiest in the country, with 53.5 million passengers, an increase of 9 percent from the previous year, followed by King Khalid International Airport with 40.8 million passengers and King Fahd International Airport with 13.7 million.
In a statement during the 20th meeting of the Aviation Program Activation Steering Committee held in Riyadh on May 15, GACA President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej highlighted the sector’s adaptability amidst global challenges through strategic planning and enhanced airport capacities. Between February 28 and May 3, over 2,000 flights from neighboring countries utilized Saudi airports, ferrying more than 258,000 passengers and maintaining a smooth flow of air traffic. The report also noted that Saudi airports facilitated approximately 178,600 domestic and 207,700 international passenger movements daily in 2025.
Flight operations saw a significant boost, with a total of 979,800 arriving and departing flights recorded in 2025, an 8.3 percent year-on-year increase. Domestic flights accounted for 506,300, growing by 6.8 percent, while international flights rose by 9.9 percent to 473,500. King Abdulaziz International Airport led in flight numbers with 314,400, trailed by King Khalid International Airport and King Fahd International Airport. The average daily domestic flights stood at 1,387, while international flights averaged 1,297. The aircraft fleet expanded by 33.8 percent to 483, and air cargo volumes reached 1.18 million tonnes, with inbound shipments being the largest segment.
Saudi Arabia’s international connectivity also improved, reaching 66 countries, a 1.5 percent increase from the previous year, and serving 176 destinations, up by 2.3 percent. The use of Saudi airspace was dominated by Saudia, which accounted for 25.5 percent of total flights, followed by flynas and flyadeal at 13.3 percent and 8.6 percent, respectively. Despite these advancements, Saudi Arabia’s standing on the Global Air Connectivity Index dipped slightly, ranking 18th in 2025 compared to 17th in 2024.