Taif Airport to get a facelift
The Projects Department of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has announced a plan to expand the passenger halls at the Taif Airport and designs for the first stage are being prepared.
Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General ordered the expansion to complement the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and be prepared to receive Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and other visitors to the Kingdom.
GACA President, Abdullah Rehaimi, said the project was part of a plan by the Authority to develop and upgrade the airports in the Kingdom.
Preliminary studies have been completed for the development of the airport’s two towers and passenger halls and also form setting up a separate hall for pilgrims. The plan will take two or three years to implement.
It will increase the airport’s capacity from the current 3,628 flights to 20,000 flights, accommodating an estimated 400,000 passengers once completed.
This expansion will also increase commercial and economic activity and also have a positive effect on the tourism sector of Taif.
Last summer Taif received huge numbers of visitors from the GCC states, as well as from the Kingdom itself.
This invigorated the local economy, including hotels, furnished accommodations, the resorts in Al-Hada and Al-Shifa and all the privately-owned resorts.
Taif Airport was opened in 1369 AH and includes the royal reception hall, the VIP lounge and two halls for arrivals and departures.