Riyadh Governor Prince Faisal bin Bandar on Monday attended the opening ceremony of international travel terminals 3 and 4 at King Khalid International Airport, an expansion which will support travel movement going through the Saudi capital.
The two new terminals will “increase the airport’s capacity with high-level equipment,” Saleh Al-Jasser, Saudi minister of transport and logistics, and the chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Moreover, the minister noted that the addition aligns with the national aviation strategy.
Saudi Arabia had recently launched its national aviation strategy. Through the strategy, the Kingdom is working to connect 250 destinations directly to and from Saudi airports.
Al-Jasser said that the two terminals will support international travel coinciding with the launch of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and strengthen Riyadh’s position as a global connectivity hub that empowers the tourism and economic sector.
He said that the capacity of the Kingdom’s airports has been raised and the passenger experience improved to achieve the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy in accordance with Saudi Vision 2030.
Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, president of the General Authority for Civil Aviation, said that terminals 3 and 4 will be an important addition to the airport as it seeks to reach a total capacity of 13 million passengers annually.
“This is the beginning of further expansions and future developments for the airport of the capital city according to a comprehensive plan,” said Al-Duailej.
The two new halls incorporate the latest operating technologies, while the aviation arena has been designed to accommodate wide-body aircraft, giving the airport a competitive advantage.
The terminals’ 22 travel gates are supported by 95 counters dedicated to finalizing travel procedures, and 12 self-service machines.
Riyadh Airports Company (RAC) has been managing and operating King Khalid International Airport since its establishment in 2016.
The RAC was established as part of the privatization program of the aviation sector in Saudi Arabia to advance the sector and improve services provided to passengers.
In total, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh includes five passenger terminals, 40 passenger bridges and a car park to accommodate 11,600 vehicles.
It also includes two private terminals, the royal hall, the central control tower, and two parallel runways each with a length of 4,260 meters (13,980 feet).
