Riyadh: The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) yesterday issued its monthly performance report for December 2024 on the Kingdom’s international and domestic airports, assessing them based on 11 operational performance standards to align with strategic objectives aimed at improving services, enhancing quality, and ensuring a seamless traveler experience. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jizan, Arar International Airport, and Turaif Airport ranked highly in the report, with GACA categorizing airports for performance evaluation based on annual passenger numbers to ensure a transparent approach.
According to Saudi Press Agency, among the category of international airports with more than 15 million passengers annually, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh achieved first place with an 82% compliance rate. King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah came in second, with 73%. King Fahd International Airport in Dammam tied for the first place with Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah in the category of international airports serving 5 to 15 million passengers annually, with a 91% compliance rate. The first outperformed the latter in terms of several standards.
In the category of 2 to 5 million annual passengers, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jizan tied for first place with Abha International Airport, both achieving a 100% compliance rate. The first outperformed the latter by reaching higher targets in the specified evaluation criteria. In the category of airports with fewer than 2 million annual passengers, Arar International Airport achieved a 100% compliance rate, outperforming its competitors in terms of average waiting time for departing and arriving flights.
Turaif Airport achieved first place in the domestic airport category, with a 100% compliance rate, outperforming all competing airports in terms of average waiting time for departing and arriving flights. GACA evaluates airport performance through operational performance standards, focused on critical passenger touchpoints. These include check-in, security, passport control, customs, baggage claim, and assistance to passengers with reduced mobility. These metrics ensure a smooth and efficient travel experience for all passengers, aligning with international best practices.
