GASTAT: Increase of air traffic rate in Saudi Arabia’s airports 2021

The Air Traffic Statistics Publication results, published by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), showed that the total number of domestic and international flights (arriving and departing) in all airports in Saudi Arabia in 2021 reached nearly 497,000 flights, with an increase by 43% from 2020, through which about 49 million passengers were transported, with an increase of 30% compared to 2020. The share of Saudi airlines was about 40 million passengers.

The results indicated that the number of arriving and departing international flights in 2021 reached nearly 126,000, with an increase of 20% from 2020. The number of arriving and departing domestic flights reached nearly 371,000, with an increase of 53% from 2020.

The number of passengers transported by arriving and departing domestic flights in 2021 reached nearly 35 million passengers, an increase of 45% from 2020. The number of passengers transported by arriving and departing international flights reached nearly 14 million passengers, an increase of 4% from 2020. Domestic and international air freight increased by 53% in 2021 compared to 2020.

Meanwhile, ship traffic in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ports rose by 7% in 2021 compared to 2020. The total number of ships traffic in Saudi ports in 2021 was 13.2 thousand ships. Jeddah Islamic Port had the largest share in ship traffic, with 4.1 thousand ships, followed by the King Fahd Industrial Port in Jubail, where ship traffic reached 1.9 thousand ships.

The total number of passengers traveling through ports in Saudi Arabia reached 652 thousand in 2021, where the number of passengers increased by 33% compared to 2020. Jazan Port has the highest percentage of arriving and departing passengers, where the number of passengers reached 460,000, or 71% of the total number of passengers traveling through ports in KSA.

The total volume of goods unloaded at all ports in Saudi Arabia reached 119.8 million tons in 2021. Total capacity of all Saudi ports was 601 million tons. The percentage of goods unloaded at commercial ports in 2021 dropped by 18% compared to 2020.

GASTAT is the only official statistical reference for statistical data and information in Saudi Arabia. It executes all the statistical work, in addition to the technical oversight of the statistical sector, which includes a multiple system of centers and statistical units established within the administrative structures of government agencies and some private sector institutions as well.