Saudi aviation market on right track to growth: Ali Rajab

Ali Rajab, CEO of Air Connectivity Program 

Saudi Arabia’s aviation industry is on the right track as the number of travelers and passengers is growing, Air Connectivity Program (ACP) chief executive officer Ali Rajab told Argaam. 

On the sidelines of the 15th ICAO Air Services Negotiation (ICAN2023), he stated that the ACP signed more than 32 contracts since its launch in 2021, representing direct routes with several countries and addressing challenges hindering airlines connectivity in the Kingdom. 

Rajab said that airline destinations currently stand at 132 from 99 in 2019, adding that some airlines face challenges in establishing direct connectivity due to the limited number of aircraft.

The official said that Saudi Airlines has been repositioned in Jeddah, adding that Riyadh Airlines will launch its first flight at the beginning of 2025. 

Following the launch of the Saudi Aviation Strategy by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), air transport companies concluded a bundle of deals, as one of the strategy’s goals is to reach 330 million travelers from 105 million and secure access to 250 terminals. 

Rajab assured that the Minister of Tourism and the GACA’s President support ACP in enhancing the Kingdom’s connectivity and boosting its ranking in IATA's Air Connectivity Index. The Kingdom jumped from 27th to 13th place on the index in 2022.  

The program aims to achieve even higher international rankings, he stated.