Bensalman Announces "Saudi Riyadh International Airport Expanded to World's Largest Scale"

Goal to Build a Mega Airport with 6 Runways
Riyadh Population Targeted to Reach 20 Million by 2030

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia has announced plans to expand the capital Riyadh's international airport to become the largest in the world. This expansion is part of Saudi Arabia's mega construction project, 'Vision 2030.' Through this airport expansion, Riyadh's population is also targeted to increase significantly from the current approximately 7 million to 20 million by 2030.

On the 28th (local time), according to Saudi state media SPA, Crown Prince bin Salman announced in a public statement that the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh will be greatly expanded and transformed into the world's largest international airport. The new airport will be renamed 'King Salman International Airport,' and it is planned to be a mega airport covering 57㎢, including the existing King Khalid International Airport site.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which is responsible for investing in the construction of King Salman International Airport, stated, "As part of the Vision 2030 plan, a new international airport with a total of six runways will be constructed," adding, "The annual passenger capacity will increase from the current 29 million to 120 million by 2030, and to 180 million by 2050."

Considering that Incheon Airport, a world-class hub airport, currently operates three runways, King Salman International Airport is expected to become the world's largest airport with six runways. PIF emphasized, "This airport project is a measure to transform Riyadh into one of the world's top 10 economic cities," and "Riyadh's population will increase to between 15 million and 20 million by 2030."

In the future, King Salman International Airport plans to have a cargo handling capacity of 3.5 million tons, and PIF forecasts that it will generate approximately $7 billion (about 9.3 trillion KRW) annually in non-oil sector revenue for the Saudi government. Additionally, it is analyzed that the project will create about 103,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Alongside this, the Saudi government plans to establish a second national airline, RIA, to compete with Middle Eastern aviation market leaders such as Emirates Airline in Dubai, UAE, and Qatar Airways, and designate King Salman International Airport as the base for RIA.