Airport Terminal, Abha Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Image courtesy: Matarat Holding.

His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulazi Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, has announced the launch of the master plan for the new Abha International Airport.

In order to become a notable landmark in the Kingdom, the new Abha airport aspires to express a cohesive architectural character with the Asir region’s legacy. In contrast to the present 10,500 square meters of the existing airport, its terminal space will increase to 65,000 square meters when the first phase is finished by 2028. The development of passenger boarding bridges, self-service locations for simplified travel processes, and large-capacity parking facilities are all included in this extension.

The new airport’s design will honor Saudi culture while showcasing the Asir region’s distinctive architectural style. This design will ensure smooth services for guests and travelers while providing a distinctive travel experience with excellent efficiency. Over 13 million passengers will be able to pass through the airport each year, a tenfold increase over the current 1.5 million capacity. Additionally, compared to the present 30,000 flights, it will be able to handle more than 90,000 flights annually. The new airport will also have 20 gates, 41 check-in desks, and 7 new self-service check-in locations.

The new Abha airport is expected to contribute to enhancing the prominence of the Aseer region as an attractive tourist destination. It will also fulfil Aseer’s development strategy and the aviation strategy that aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 by increasing air connectivity to 250 destinations and transporting 330 million passengers.