Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport followed closely and received a compliance rate of 73% Dammam’s King Fahd International Airport maintained its top spot in the second category RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh secured the top spot among the Kingdom’s airports for September, achieving an 82 percent compliance rate, official data showed. According to the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the Riyadh air base, which serves over 15 million passengers annually, outperformed others in its category, which includes the Kingdom’s largest international airports. In the same category, Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport followed closely and received a compliance rate of 73 percent. The aviation body assesses the operational performance of airports based on 11 standards tracking passenger experience, including check-in, security, passport and customs control, alongside assistance for individuals with limited mobility and delays. This reflects GACA’s commitment to transparency and continuous efforts to enhance the quality of services provided to passengers, contributing to an improved travel experience across the Kingdom’s airports. Dammam’s King Fahd International Airport maintained its top spot in the second category, serving between 5 million and 15 million passengers annually, achieving a 91 percent compliance rate in September, as noted in the GACA report. Madinah’s Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport also maintained its rating of 91 percent. In the third category for international terminals with an annual passenger count between 2 and 5 million, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Airport in Jazan shared the lead spot with Abha International Airport at a 100 percent commitment rate. Five airports received a 100 percent compliance rate in September in the fourth category of the international air base, receiving less than 2 million passengers annually. The five air stations include Al-Ahsa Airport, Najran International Airport, Prince Naif Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Al-Qassi, as well as Hail International Airport, and Taif International Airport. Following closely in the same category were Al-Jouf International Airport and AlUla International Airport both receiving a 91 percent compliance rate. Al-Qaisumah International Airport and Prince Abdulmohsin bin Abdulaziz International Airport received an 82 percent rating, while Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk received a 45 percent compliance rate. The fifth category, dedicated to domestic terminals, saw all airports achieving a 100 percent compliance rate during September. This category encompassed Gurayat Airport, Arar Airport, and Bisha Airport, as well as Turaif Airport, Rafha Airport, and Al-Dawadmi Airport. It also included Wadi Al-Dawasir Airport, King Saud bin Abdulaziz Airport and Sharurah Airport. The Kingdom has recorded a 17 percent rise in passenger air traffic over the first six months of this year, to 62 million compared to 53 million in the same period in 2023. Saudi Arabia aims to enhance air connectivity to 250 destinations, serving 330 million passengers, and double air cargo capacity to 4.5 million tons by 2030 through its National Aviation Strategy.