Riyadh: Deputy Governor of Riyadh Region Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, along with Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Saleh Al-Jasser, used an autonomous vehicle to travel through Riyadh to King Khalid International Airport. This initiative is part of the Transport General Authority’s (TGA) recent launch of autonomous vehicle services in the region, aiming to promote smart and sustainable mobility.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the deputy governor visited the airport’s operations control center with the transport minister to understand its key role in real-time decision-making. The center coordinates with airport stakeholders to enhance operational flow and improve passenger experience by utilizing advanced operational systems and artificial intelligence technologies.
The deputy governor also reviewed the development project of International Terminal 2, observing the progress, and toured International Terminal 1 to assess expansion activities. He evaluated the integrated passenger journey model and the services offered to travelers.
At the end of the visit, Al-Jasser noted that the expansion of Terminals 1 and 2 will increase the airport’s capacity by 14 million passengers. With additional terminal projects, the airport’s total capacity is expected to rise to approximately 56 million passengers annually. This expansion will facilitate smoother travel, accommodate more flights, and support air traffic growth, enhancing the passenger experience with modern services and high operational efficiency. Al-Jasser added that these projects will strengthen the airport’s infrastructure, solidify its role as a global logistics hub, and enhance Riyadh’s status as an international center for travel, transport, tourism, and trade.
He highlighted that these development efforts are part of the Aviation Program within the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, aligning with the growth of Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector under the support of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. These strategic initiatives pave the way for King Salman International Airport, projected to become the world’s largest airport by 2030 with a capacity of over 100 million passengers annually, increasing to 185 million by 2050. This will further establish Riyadh as a global logistics hub connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa.