RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation sector experienced a 17 percent annual surge to 62 million passengers in the first half of 2024, amidst increasing domestic and international travel demand. According to official statements from the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the period also recorded a total of 446,000 flights, marking a 12 percent increase compared to 2023 figures. Moreover, air cargo traffic through the Kingdom’s airports also saw an uptick, soaring by 41 percent to 606,000 tonnes during the same period. This aligns with the Kingdom’s aviation goals, which include tripling annual passenger numbers to 330 million, expanding connectivity to over 250 destinations from its 29 airports, and increasing air freight capacity to 4.5 million tonnes of cargo per year by 2030. Additionally, King Khalid International Airport led the growth trajectory with 17.7 million passengers, reflecting a 21 percent increase year-on-year, and 132,000 flights, up by 15 percent from the previous year. Similarly, King Abdulaziz International Airport recorded a 16 percent rise in passengers to 24 million and 148,000 flights, indicating a 13 percent increase. Furthermore, King Fahad International Airport saw 6 million passengers in the first half, a 15 percent year-on-year growth rate. The airport handled 45,000 flights during the same period, also reflecting a 15 percent growth rate compared to the first six months of 2023. The Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport recorded 5.6 million passengers in the first half of the year, reflecting a 20 percent rise compared to the corresponding period in 2023. The airport handled 39,000 flights during this period, up 22 percent from a year earlier. Meanwhile, the Kingdom’s other airports combined recorded a total of 8.8 million passengers in the first six months, reflecting a 16 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. The number of flights at these airports totaled 83,000, up 11 percent from the same timeframe in 2023. The 13th meeting of the Aviation Sector Strategy Activation Steering Committee, chaired by the President of the GACA, discussed recent advancements in strategy implementation and highlighted the sector’s record-breaking achievements and unprecedented milestones in the first half of 2024.