Saudi Arabia has completed the institutional transformation of its airports towards improving the passenger experience aiming to become among the most competitive airports in the world.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and Matarat Holding Company announced the completion of the institutional transformation of 25 of the Kingdom's airports and launched "Jeddah Airports Company" and the 2nd Assembly Company.
During the ceremony, the Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, Saleh al-Jasser, highlighted the importance of the institutional transformation of the Kingdom's airports as an essential step in supporting the plans of the Ministry and the civil aviation sector to advance the Kingdom's airports and enhance their role in supporting the national economy.
Jasser praised the national strategy for transport and logistics, announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, saying it is a "qualitative jump and a major leap" in the sector.
He noted that this would make the Kingdom a global logistics center, linking the three continents and enabling it to acquire the 5th rank in the world in airports transit traffic and reach the 10th rank in the world in the index of logistics services.
Jasser lauded the efforts of officials and workers to transfer the 25 airports, which was completed in one year, stressing that the government provides all support to the transport, logistics, and aviation sectors, to achieve and meet the large targets to be reached in the future.
For his part, the Advisor to GACA President for Governance and Executive Projects, Sulaiman al-Bassam, said that the launch of the two companies comes within the framework of the Authority's outstanding efforts to improve airport services in the Kingdom, through the "Matarat Holding" and affiliated companies, to manage and operate Saudi airports in a modern and developed manner.
"Airports are a cornerstone of the air transport industry and play a vital role in the field of development."
Bassam stated that the Saudi government believes the civil aviation sector is essential and issued the royal decree that separated the legislative from the operational and administrative aspects.
He added that the decree enhanced the efforts of strategic plans to achieve the goals of Vision 2030 for GACA to implement serious steps that accomplish its role as a legislator and regulator of the air transport industry in the Kingdom.
The advisor noted that Matarat provides the necessary support to enable companies to do their role within an appropriate environment to receive the most significant number of carriers and air traffic in Saudi airports and airspace.
Bassam stated that the "important step" aims to increase the rate of competitiveness and productivity between airports, improve financial returns, and raise the operational efficiency of Saudi airports.
"This in addition to raising the capacity of the Kingdom's airports to more than 330 million passengers per year, and to increase the capacity of air cargo to 4.5 million tons per annum, and achieve the 5th rank - globally - in air connectivity for passengers across 250 global destinations."
Speaking at the event, the CEO of Matarat, Mohammed al-Mowkley, stated that the establishment of Jeddah Airports comes as part of the assets transfer and institutional transformation program for the Kingdoms' airports.
It will assume responsibility for operating and managing King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, equipping it with the latest specifications and the highest international standards, and enhancing its role to be at the forefront of the best and leading regional and international airports.
Mowkley indicated that Jeddah Airports would develop King Abdulaziz International Airport to become a diversified economic gateway and operate it with state-of-the-art equipment and advanced services, with a new and innovative modern concept.
He explained that this would enhance passengers' experience to be an icon interface for visitors to the Kingdom, and a significant global hub, through its connection to the international airports' network.
Airports Cluster 2 Company will manage and operate 22 of the Kingdom's airports to provide the best and most acceptable services to passengers, develop these airports and increase their role in supporting the national economy by providing the best practices adopted by international airports, enhancing their competitiveness and improving the quality of services.
It will enrich passengers' experience, improve the performance of airports, and bring them to the best international levels.
