Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 9 November 2025:– Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector continues to demonstrate strong momentum, with the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announcing record-breaking growth across passenger traffic, flight movements, and international recognition for the Kingdom’s leadership in global aviation.
Between January and September 2025, Saudi airports welcomed 103.1 million passengers, representing a 9% increase compared to the previous year. Total flight movements rose to 713,000, up 5%, expanding connectivity to more than 170 destinations worldwide. These milestones highlight the aviation sector’s key role in advancing Vision 2030 and the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS).
The results were presented at the 18th Aviation Program Steering Committee (SteerCo) meeting, chaired by His Excellency Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, President of GACA. Also in attendance were His Excellency Ahmed Al-Hassan, Assistant Minister of Transport and Logistics, and Loay Mashabi, CEO of Saudia Cargo.
During the same period, Saudi airports handled 866,000 tons of air cargo, comprising 567,000 tons of origin-and-destination freight and 299,000 tons of transit cargo. Saudia Cargo continued to expand its global reach through partnerships with TAM Group, WFS, Cainiao, China Cargo Airlines, and FedEx.
A major highlight for the Kingdom was its re-election to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council for the 2026–2028 term, achieving a record 175 votes out of 184 — the highest in its history. The result reaffirms international confidence in Saudi Arabia’s leadership, safety record, and proactive contribution to the future of sustainable global aviation.
“Saudi aviation is delivering sustained passenger and connectivity growth in support of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 agenda, providing unprecedented investment opportunities for the global aviation sector,” said His Excellency Abdulaziz Al-Duailej. “The recent ICAO Council re-election result reflects the constructive global leadership role Saudi Arabia is playing in aviation, strengthening international partnerships to deliver greater global connectivity and economic prosperity.”
The SteerCo meeting also reviewed progress in charter and private aviation, with VistaJet becoming the first international private operator authorised to conduct domestic flights within the Kingdom.
Further advancements were noted in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) aimed at boosting air logistics. The Riyadh Integrated Logistics Zone (SILZ) continues to attract major global tenants, including Apple, SHEIN, Lenovo, Bahri, Chalhoub Group, Sapphire, and iHerb, positioning Saudi Arabia as a growing regional hub for integrated logistics and e-commerce.
