WORK on the third runway of what is set to become the world’s biggest airport has started.
The major airport is set to open in 2030, and it will eventually welcome as many as 185million passengers.
King Salman International Airport in Riyadh, has begun the latest works, with the additional runway set to be 4,200 metres long.
It will allow the airport to increase its capacity from around 65 aircraft movements per hour to 85.
Marco Mejia, Acting Chief Executive Officer of King Salman International Airport said: “Launching construction of the third runway marks a pivotal step in delivering the KSIA Master Plan.
“And reflects our commitment to developing world-class infrastructure capable of supporting future growth, enhancing operational efficiency, and expanding long-haul connectivity without constraints.”
It won’t stop there though, in fact there are six planned runways for the King Salman International Airport.
Each will be parallel to one another, and built around the existing King Khalid International Airport.
When finished, the airport will be the same size as Manhattan in New York.
The ‘mega airport’ is set to become the largest in the world, including the current one which is also in Saudi Arabia; the King Fahd International Airport.
At 57 square kilometres, the airport will be initially be able to handle up to 100 million passengers each year.
It will also be able to handle more than two million tonnes of cargo by 2030.
The airport was announced back in 2022 and is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman‘s Saudi Vision 2030.
This is set to make Riyadh into a major hub for transport, trade and tourism.
It will eventually accommodate up to 120million passengers each year, which is then expected to rise to 185million by 2050.
The airport has been designed by Foster + Partners and will have plenty of light and airy spaces, seating for travellers and 4.6sqm of shops.
A lot of features in the airport are set to be high tech, such as climate-controlled lighted.
The airport will also feature a large mosque, landscaped gardens and a Royal Terminal for use of the Saudi royal family, government officials, and VIPs.
This major UK airport has revealed its new £1.3billion upgrade plans…
London Heathrow will undergo a series of developments next year, starting with Terminal 2 and 4.
It will improve the passenger experience by using AI-technology and has plans to make flights more punctual along with better baggage facilities.
This morning, Heathrow Airport revealed it will start upgrading Terminal 4 next year costing £1.3billion.
The first step will be building a new multi-storey car park and upgrading its check-in area.
The works will be phased to ensure that there’s no disruption to the running of Terminal 4 – and these are expected to be completed in 2031.
Over in Terminal 2, Heathrow has announced that work will also begin on a new baggage system that will be able to handle 31,000 bags each day.
In order to speed up flights and improve punctuality, it will install AI-powered turnaround tech.
This will involve a network of cameras being installed across Heathrow.
Using AI to analyse data, the airport will speed up turnaround times between flights, which will make journeys more punctual.
Coverage is expected to be across all terminals by the end of 2026.
For more on airports, this one in the UK is set to axe free drop off with new fee starting in the New Year.
Plus, this airport was named the best in the UK – it beats London Heathrow and City by miles.