SAUDI ARABIA. Airport fees for airlines operating out of major airports in Riyadh, Jeddah and Damman will be slashed by up to -35% later this year. The move by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) is designed to lure more airlines to the Kingdom and inject growth into the country’s tourism industry.
The initiative is good news for the country’s burgeoning travel retail sector as it places much more emphasis on growing airport non-aeronautical revenues.
The reductions will apply to airlines flying out of King Khalid International, King Abdulaziz International and King Fahd International airports.
The initiative could lead to more competitive air fares for travellers wanting to get to Saudi Arabia, which is fast-developing as a global tourism destination, as well as bringing forward a greater variety of airline options.
GACA – which is managing the process of privatising airports in Saudi Arabia, as the country continues its moves to open up to the world – made the announcement at the recent Farnborough International Airshow in the UK.
Note: The Saudi Travel & Tourism Ecosystem Report will be published in coming days by The Moodie Davitt Report. It will take a deep dive into one of the world’s most exciting, environmentally conscious, investment-heavy and fast-growing travel, tourism and aviation markets.
