Saudi Arabia has announced plans to build one of the largest airports in the world, which will be called King Salman International Airport.
Plans revealed by the kingdom’s current ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, outline it is to be built on the site of Riyadh’s existing airport, King Khalid International Airport.
Saudi Arabia announced its masterplan for King Salman International Airport — which will be one of the world’s largest airports. The country’s sovereign wealth fund will build the more than 57 square kilometres airport, and it will include the current King Khaled airport. With plans for six parallel runways, and including the existing terminals, the airport aims to accommodate up to 120 million travelers by 2030. By 2050, the airport is expected to accommodate up to 185 million passengers and process 3.5 million tons of cargo. The masterplan would boost Riyadh’s position as a global logistics hub, stimulate transport, trade and tourism, and act as a bridge linking the East with the West. The new airport is expected to contribute $7 billion annually to the country’s non-oil gross domestic product and to create 103,000 direct and indirect jobs, in line with Saudi’s Vision 2030 objectives. The kingdom has plans to attract 100 million annual visits by 2030.
Even as Dubai-based Emirates airline expects to reach 100 percent capacity and its pre-pandemic network by next year, the carrier is now reimagining its retail experience with the debut of its Emirates World retail store in Dubai. Looking to invest $27 million, Emirates plans to roll out the retail store concept across the airline’s network over the next three years. The airline’s redesigned 3,000-square foot retail store in Dubai’s Jumeirah Town Centre gives customers access to Emirates’ signature products via virtual reality and augmented reality technologies. Consultants at Emirates World have been cross-trained to provide end-to-end travel solutions, and strive for a one-stop shopping experience that includes airline ticketing, Emirates Holidays and Skywards consultant support, the company said. Emirates World will also feature the airline’s in-store Premium Economy Class seat display. The retail store will host workshops, talks and other interactive sessions with Thailand, Seychelles and Israel tourism boards kicking off destination workshops in December. The retail store experience models will fall into three categories — including the full-fledged Emirates World concept, the Travel Store model, and Travel Kiosks, according to Emirates. “Retail store models will be determined by customer requirements in each market, including strategic positioning, venue footfall, and evolving customer trends,” the company said.
World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) members are set to invest more than $10.5 billion in Saudi Arabia over the next five years, said Julia Simpson, WTTC president and CEO. The global tourism body’s highly anticipated Global Summit kicked off in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh on Monday with an estimated 3,000 people expected to attend. With its theme — Travel for a Better Future — the event will focus on the value of the sector, not only to the global economy, but also to the planet and communities. “Our event brings together many of the world’s most powerful travel and tourism business leaders to discuss and secure its long-term future, which is critical to economies, jobs, and livelihoods around the world,” Simpson said.
