The logistics sector in the Kingdom's airports is witnessing qualitative leaps and rapid development, benefiting from the objectives set for the sector in the civil aviation strategy emanating from the national strategy for transport and logistics. The strategy aims to enable air freight and double its capacity. The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has undertaken several initiatives that contribute to developing the air freight system in the Kingdom and liberalizing its services to give the logistics sector the necessary flexibility to increase its capacity to 4.5 million tons of goods by the year 2030. The logistics industry is a mainstay in the growth of countries' economies, enhancing their economic diversification and enabling the rest of the other sectors. GACA has worked in accordance with the latest international methods and technologies to develop and build a modern airport system that provides the best services and improves the quality of services provided to beneficiaries in the air freight sector. The aim is to enhance the position of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to become a distinct logistics platform between the three continents, promoting sustainable development and a major contribution to achieving the Kingdom's Vision 2030. The Kingdom's airports recorded a growth in air cargo traffic during the current year compared to the previous year 2020, where the total air cargo until the end of December of 2021 amounted to more than 653,000 tons. The civil aviation sector is working to contribute to supporting the field of air freight and enabling the logistic sector in the Kingdom, through many projects that have contributed to improving the infrastructure of the sector in Saudi airports. This is evidence by the model cargo village at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which is an advanced logistics platform, whose capacity is estimated at 500,000 tons. The goal is to reach 1,600,000 tons annually at the time of full operation, on an area of 350,000 square meters, which contributes to strengthening the strategic location of the city of Riyadh as a leading provider of logistics services. Furthermore it is the first village of its kind in the field of air freight at the Kingdom's level by providing an integrated area for the establishment of independent buildings for each operator of express freight service with the highest specifications that keep pace with the volume of shipments flowing from and to the capital city, finishing all operations in one place and with high efficiency. All in accordance with the requirements of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The Model Cargo Village at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam aspires to be one of the important economic propeller in the shipping and logistics sector in the Kingdom. The village includes many warehouses, logistics sites, and a deposit and re-export area. The express freight service is one of the most important services provided by the village in addition to the incentives to various companies, most notably the competitive prices for various airport services. It has a cargo handling capacity of 650,000 tons per year. The village also provides a wide range of warehouses with different types of storage and distribution operations, and extends over a total area of 500,000 square meters, including 300,000 square meters dedicated to warehouses and storage facilities, and 200,000 square meters assigned for services. This in addition to an area for import and re-export that spans 100,000 square meters, which enables investors to store and re-export air, land and sea shipments without the need to pay customs duties with the possibility of reassembly and partial clearance of goods. At King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, the new terminal of the Saudi Arabian Logistics (SAL) Co. has been recently expanded. The expansion of the first phase of the terminal covers an area of 40,000 square meters, to provide a number of quality services, in addition to the traditional ground handling services. The terminal includes various shipping facilities equipped with the latest facilities and the highest international standards and automated handling systems. This in addition to services for incoming and outgoing shipments, medical and food refrigerated shipments, high-value shipments, hazardous shipments and transit shipments, all in accordance to high security procedures according to the latest international standards. The project, in its first phase, will also contribute to raising the capacity of the shipping facilities to reach 1.4 million tons annually. It is worth noting that GACA seeks to achieve its strategy that focuses on creating a global investment environment and charting the future of the aviation sector in the Kingdom to be a pioneer in the region and the world. Further supporting the Saudi national economy, and achieve development goals to raise the level of civil aviation at the regional and international levels.
