A detailed analysis of the Saudi Arabian Air Traffic Industry and Growth Outlook covering Flight Type, Route Category, Passenger Demographics, and Airport Hub Tier
In 2025, the air traffic industry of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is expected to reach USD 17.9 billion United Nations dollars, eventually growing at a CAGR of 11.2% to USD 51.4 billion by 2035. The kingdom is carrying out developments of CTAs through the regional air transport strategy the country is becoming a leading player on the aviation stage.
High-impact project such as King Salman International Airport in Riyadh and the King Abdulaziz International Airport expansion in Jeddah act as global transport links from Africa to Europe and Asia (Source: General Authority of Civil Aviation).
Market Overview
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Estimated Saudi Air Traffic Market Size (2025E) | USD 17.9 billion |
| Projected Value (2035F) | USD 51.4 billion |
| Value-based CAGR (2025 to 2035) | 11.2% |
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The air traffic industry in H1 2024 is growing at 10.7% CAGR, propelled by increasing regional connectivity: low-cost carrier routes and bilateral air service agreements have expanded across the globe.
By the end of 2024, growth hit 11%, driven by waves of pilgrimage from religious travel linked to Umrah and Hajj and the full operational deployment of Riyadh Air, the kingdom’s new international carrier. The upward trajectory is likely to be further boosted as Saudi Vision 2030 initiatives modernize the aviation sector and increase the diversity of air travel options being offered.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Market Value (2025) | USD 16.2 billion |
| Middle East Regional Share | 42%, primarily traffic from UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain |
| Europe Share | 29%, led by UK, Germany, and France |
| Asia-Pacific Share | 21%, dominated by India, Pakistan, and Indonesia |
| Americas & Others | 8%, led by the USA and Canada |
| Top Airports | King Khalid Intl. (RUH), King Abdulaziz Intl. (JED), Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Intl. (MED) |
| Economic Impact | Sustains ~121,000 direct aviation jobs (Source: International Civil Aviation Organization, 2024) |
| Key Trends | Multilingual inflight services, gender-diverse cabin crew hiring, AI-integrated air traffic control, green terminal certifications |
| Peak Travel Seasons | March–April (Ramadan & Umrah ), July–September (Summer Vacations), October (GITEX & Hajj Prep) |
| Metric | Domestic Passengers : International Passengers |
|---|---|
| Estimated Passenger Count in 2025 | 48 million : 77 million |
| Projected Passenger Count in 2035 | 83 million : 165 million |
| CAGR (2025 to 2035) | 5.6% : 8.9% |
Over 60% of all air travelers inbound and outbound are expected to be international travelers in 2025 in Saudi Arabia. International passenger traffic will grow to 77 million by 2025 and 165 million by 2035, aided by increasing hajj/umrah tourism infrastructure and political air access agreements through Asia-Pacific and Europe.
Domestic demand continues to grow by 5.6% CAGR with the growth of secondary airports and domestic business travel in economic clusters such as NEOM, Riyadh and Jeddah. The launch of the mid-range city pairs of Abha–Tabuk and Medina–Yanbu by Flynas and SaudiGulf Airlines are offering residents affordable short-haul air travel.
| Date | Development & Details |
|---|---|
| Feb 2025 | GACA certified King Salman International Airport’s Phase 1 operations (Source: GACA Annual Report, 2024) |
| Jan 2025 | Riyadh Air commenced commercial service to Frankfurt and Mumbai with Dreamliner fleet |
| Dec 2024 | Flynas introduced all-female cabin crew on domestic routes under new gender diversity framework |
| Nov 2024 | Matarat Holding Co. launched biometric boarding across 8 domestic terminals |
| Oct 2024 | King Abdulaziz Airport awarded LEED Gold Certification for sustainable terminal expansion |
International Routes Drive Capacity and Revenue Growth
Saudi Arabia’s domestic air travel segment is undergoing a strategic transformation as the government actively integrates regional connectivity into its Vision 2030 goals. The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has earmarked over SAR 50 billion for domestic airport upgrades through 2030, aiming to stimulate air mobility between economic zones, pilgrimage cities, and emerging tourism destinations (Source: GACA).
Low-cost carriers (a breed we now refer to as “low-cost carriers”) have come out with frequence shuttle services between urban clusters (like Riyadh-Abha and Jeddah-Tabuk). Flyadeal’s “CityFlex” program offers same-day return tickets for weekending professionals commuting from Riyadh to industrial such as Yanbu and Jazan to boost workforce fluidity.
NEOM Bay Airport's expansion has opened up important previously underserved regional routes. In late 2024, Flynas operated direct flights to AlUla and Medina from NEOM, connecting the innovation and heritage corridors. These routes serve domestic tourists and government delegations moving between giga-projects and cultural assets.
The pact has also prompted GACA and the Saudi Tourism Authority to collaborate, giving rise to new routes to secondary destinations such as Najran, Hail and Bisha. Such services not only bolster rural economic inclusion, but also coincide with initiatives such as “Saudi Summer,” which aims to boost domestic tourism and offers prospective travelers flight-hotel bundles geared toward young Saudi families.
These include biometric boarding at Tier-2 airports and State-of-the-Art powered slot management in regional hubs. Regardless, improving on-time performance has come to be the No. 1 path to satisfaction among millennials and digitally-savvy Gen Z flyers in a digital gorilla economy. As domestic movement of an economic, cultural and religious nature becomes the lifeblood of Saudi society, domestic aviation will form a foundational pillar of Saudi Arabia’s integrated national transportation strategy.
Domestic Expansion Supports Economic Diversification Goals
Saudi Arabia’s aviation map is changing fast to a flexible point-to-point model, instead of a traditional hub-and-spoke structure. It also allows airlines to connect emerging urban hubs, industrial metropolises and developing tourist sites directly, rather than via Riyadh or Jeddah.
Flynas has led point-to-point innovation by launching direct flights between previously underserved city pairs, such as Dammam-Tabuk and Abha-Taif. These flights serve business travelers and domestic tourists alike, providing a quicker option to multi-leg connections or overland travel. To cater specifically to healthcare professionals working across southern medical cities, Flynas also launched a direct Medina–Gizan route in 2024.
This model is also being actively supported by Air Arabia Saudi, which introduced new nonstop connections between Buraydah (Qassim) and Al-Ula-designed to stimulate cultural tourism flows during the Tantora Winter Festival. These connections reduce travel time by over 50%, enabling more spontaneous and short-stay travel behavior among Saudis.
The NEOM project has been a catalyst for new point-to-point linkages. NEOM Bay Airport now connects directly with Tabuk, Hail, and Jeddah without relying on transit through King Khalid International Airport. This change supports weekly project commutes for engineers, contractors, and consultants working on the futuristic city’s construction zones.
Point-to-point routes also complement strategic economic development. For example, direct flights between Jazan and Khobar now facilitate smoother business movement within the Southwest Industrial Corridor. Likewise, Dammam–Yanbu air links help logistics companies shuttle talent across maritime and petrochemical hubs.
By diversifying away from centralized hubs, airlines are increasing route efficiency, lowering operational costs, and better aligning with the domestic market’s growing demand for agility, convenience, and city-level connectivity. This decentralized model will likely define Saudi Arabia’s future domestic airspace grid.
Saudi Arabia’s air traffic market is led by a mix of national carriers, regional airlines, and specialized aviation service providers that are innovating through tech integration, sustainability, and niche route strategies.
| Firm | Specialization |
|---|---|
| Saudia | Legacy full-service carrier with religious tourism bundling and loyalty-linked pilgrimage upgrades |
| Riyadh Air | New international carrier focused on premium transit experiences with a digital-first fleet |
| Flynas | Low-cost international and domestic airline offering flexible fares and youth-focused packages |
| Flyadeal | Domestic LCC targeting price-sensitive business and family travelers in Saudi interior regions |
| Matarat Holding Co. | Airport operator and infrastructure developer pioneering smart terminal tech and AI-integrated control rooms |
Saudia leads in religious and long-haul traffic, operating specialized aircraft configurations for Umrah and Hajj season with multilingual cabin staff and prayer zone modules. Riyadh Air is rapidly carving out a premium transit niche by offering 4K seatback screens, onboard prayer alerts, and immersive VR inflight entertainment. Meanwhile, Flynas and Flyadeal dominate short-haul domestic segments, accounting for 60% of intra-Saudi air traffic by seat capacity (Source: International Air Transport Association).
Saudia commands significant revenue share in KSA air traffic industry. Riyadh Air’s launch strategy to serve second-tier international destinations like Guangzhou and Vienna has helped it capture 18% of the country’s outbound mid-haul market in its first operational year. Meanwhile, Flynas holds a 15% share in regional Islamic holiday travel, especially with its budget Umrah bundle from Southeast Asia and North Africa.
Domestic players like Flyadeal and Air Arabia Saudi dominate regional business routes between economic zones. Their high-frequency service model, coupled with e-check-in-only policies, appeals to millennial business travelers and university students commuting between urban campuses and rural home bases.
The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.2%.
The market is projected to reach USD 51.4 billion by 2035.
Growth is being driven by expanding international pilgrimage travel, rising domestic air connectivity, new aviation infrastructure, and digital-first national carriers like Riyadh Air.
Saudia, Riyadh Air, Flynas, Flyadeal, and Matarat Holding Co. are the industry leaders, each focusing on specialized niches within the sector.
Domestic Flights, Short-Haul International, Mid-Haul, Long-Haul
Point-to-Point, Hub-and-Spoke, Religious Corridor, Business Cluster Link
Pilgrims, Business Travelers, Diaspora Visitors, Leisure Tourists, Students
Primary International, Secondary Domestic, Economic Zone Focused
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