Saudi capital Riyadh to build a new airport to yearly cater to 180 million passengers

 

Saudi capital Riyadh to build a new airport to yearly cater to 180 million passengers

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has announced plans to construct a new airport in capital Riyadh that will be capable of eventually receiving 180 million passengers a year. 

According to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the airport will be named after 86-year-old King Salman.

The airport spanning over 57 square kilometers will accommodate up to 120 million travellers by 2030 and 185 million by 2050. It will be owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, chaired by the crown prince.

"The airport project is in line with Saudi Arabia’s vision to transform Riyadh to be among the top ten city economies in the world and to support the growth of Riyadh's population to 15–20 million people by 2030," SPA said. 

The city's current population is fewer than eight million. 

Saudi Arabia has long been a destination for religious pilgrims but is now trying to promote itself to a wider variety of tourists. The kingdom has rolled out social reforms to make the country moderate. 

Twelve new hotels are set to open next year as part of the Red Sea Development Project, and the $500bn Neom megacity also includes plans for a ski resort.

Aviation has been one of the main beneficiaries of the economic boom the kingdom is experiencing on the back of rising energy prices.

Saudi Arabia hopes to increase the cargo of airfreight passing through the country from 0.5 million tons today to 4.5 million tons by 2030, and has also announced plans for a new state airline, RIA, which will look to compete with state carriers in Qatar and the UAE.

The kingdom's busiest international airport is currently in the Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah. 

Source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/