AL-AHSA — The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej announced on Wednesday the launch of the Al-Ahsa International Airport development and expansion project. The airport’s capacity will be jumped by 250 percent to accommodate one million passengers annually once the project is completed. Al-Duailej made the announcement while addressing the Al-Ahsa Forum 2030. Prince Saud Bin Naif, emir of the Eastern Province, inaugurated the forum in the presence of Governor of Al-Ahsa Prince Saud bin Talal bin Badr. The 6th edition of the forum, with the theme of “Al-Ahsa ... the Economy of the Future,” was organized by Al-Ahsa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in cooperation with Saudi Aramco, the strategic partner. Addressing the forum, Al-Duailej said Al-Ahsa governorate is characterized by its strategic location and integrated infrastructure. “The presence of a developed international airport will facilitate access to it and connect it with the world. Al-Ahsa International Airport achieved an estimated growth rate of 30 percent in the number of passengers and an increase in the number of flights by 6.6 percent during the year 2022 compared to 2021,” he said. The GACA chief said that November 2022 witnessed the resumption of the first direct international flight service to Dubai with operation of Flydubai. The Dammam Airports Company is working on offering a number of investment opportunities, considering Al-Ahsa International Airport as a strategic partner in the renaissance of development and the economy of the province and the region, due to its association with a number of important sectors such as tourism, trade and industry. This is in addition to attracting national and foreign airlines to operate more new destinations. Al-Duailej stated that the airport development and expansion project includes raising the capacity by 250 percent to reach one million passengers per year; building two international terminals with a total area of 3,400 square meters, and developing and improving the current domestic terminals in a way compatible with the two new international terminals in order to unify the identity of the airport. This is in addition to increasing the operating capacity of travel check-in platforms and developing the conveyor belt and technical infrastructure systems.