Saudi Arabia - UK Aviation Traffic achieves record growth, Gaca led Saudi delegation to London to promote aviation investment
Riyadh: Passenger traffic between the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia rose 34% to a record 1.338 million direct passengers in 2024, more than double the 0.659 million passengers achieved in 2022. The figures were announced ahead of a 27-29 January Saudi aviation delegation visit to London, headed by the General Authority of Civil Aviation's Executive Vice President of Strategy and Business Intelligence, Mohammed AlKhuraisi.
UK-Saudi passenger numbers were boosted by British Airways commencing direct flights between Heathrow and Jeddah, whilst national carrier Saudia Airlines also achieved significant expansion. Further growth is planned with Virgin Airways announcing direct flights from Riyadh to Heathrow commencing in March 2025.
GACA Executive Vice President, Mohammed Al-Khuraisi said:
'Saudi Arabia is creating unprecedented growth and investment opportunities for global aviation, including the United Kingdom where both countries are achieving record passenger growth. The United Kingdom's expertise in aviation and infrastructure, combined with the growth agenda of the Saudi Aviation Strategy, is delivering new commercial partnerships across our airports, airlines and aviation service sectors. GACA is delighted to be leading a Saudi aviation delegation to further strengthen these partnerships and lay the platform for future growth.'
The Saudi delegation's visit to London showcased the progression of the Saudi Aviation Strategy to the British government and commercial audiences, building bilateral relationships and commercial partnerships with the United Kingdom, and promoting GACA's proven expertise in safety, security, and international cooperation. The delegation participated in a roundtable event with the British Aviation Group, engagement with UK companies in the Aviation Supply Forum, and a bilateral meeting with British Government officials including the Department for Transport and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The Saudi aviation sector is undergoing significant transformation through the implementation of the Saudi Aviation Strategy, which is unlocking $100 billion in investment to triple passenger numbers to 330 million per annum. The strategy is driving unprecedented growth across the Kingdom's aviation sector, in 2024 passenger numbers rose 15% to a record 128 million, 24% above pre-pandemic levels, with flight numbers rising by 11% to 902,000. There was also a 16% increase in connectivity with the Kingdom now connected to 172 destinations on a weekly basis around the world, and a 34% increase in cargo volumes to 1.2m tons.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
4 hours ago
- Al Etihad
EU, Britain reach post-Brexit deal on Gibraltar Border
12 June 2025 00:14 BRUSSELS (WAM)The European Union (EU) and Britain have agreed on the status of the overseas territory of Gibraltar, facilitating border crossings and resolving years of political territory has had its border arrangements with Spain as a significant point of contention since the United Kingdom's decision to withdraw from the EU in Wednesday's agreement, arrivals at Gibraltar Airport will present their passports to both Gibraltarian and Spanish border British Foreign Office stated that this system mirrors the model used by French police at London's St. Pancras station, the terminus for the Eurostar service connecting Britain with mainland Europe. "We have reached an agreement which protects British sovereignty, supports Gibraltar's economy and allows businesses to plan for the long-term once again," British Foreign Minister David Lammy said.
Zawya
10 hours ago
- Zawya
UK will end use of hotels for asylum seekers by 2029, Reeves says
Britain will end the use of hotels to house asylum seekers before the next election in 2029, finance minister Rachel Reeves said on Wednesday, in a move which will save 1 billion pounds ($1.35 billion) a year. "We will be ending the costly use of hotels to house asylum seekers in this parliament," she said in a speech setting out spending plans for the coming years. Reeves said she would end the use of hotels by providing funding to cut the asylum backlog, hear more appeal cases and return those refused asylum. ($1 = 0.7416 pounds) (Reporting by David Milliken, writing by Sarah Young, editing by Catarina Demony)
Zawya
10 hours ago
- Zawya
UK government department budgets to rise by 2.3% a year, Reeves says
British finance minister Rachel Reeves said the government's departmental budgets will grow by 2.3% a year in real terms, as she laid out her plans to divide up more than 2 trillion pounds ($2.7 trillion) of public spending. (Reporting by David Milliken and UK bureau, writing by Sarah Young, editing by Paul Sandle)
