Find out more about daa International.
All details about airports and our role.
All details about the services we are providing.
daa International plays a pivotal role in supporting Aviation Business Development (ABD) at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA), Saudi Arabia’s largest airport serving over 50 million passengers annually. With a heavy reliance on point-to-point travel rather than transfer traffic, KAIA needed a strategic approach to attract new direct routes and airline partnerships.
By the end of 2025, daa International will finalise detailed account plans to guide 2026 efforts, positioning KAIA as a regional hub connecting Southeast Asia to Africa, supported by improved inter-terminal connectivity and a new terminal opening in 2027.
KAIA serves a diverse passenger mix—pilgrimage, leisure, business, and outbound travel. Transfer traffic accounts for just 10%, creating a strategic imperative to attract new direct routes and airline partners. daa International supports these efforts through strategy, coordination, and stakeholder engagement.
Small ABD team of just two staff
Limited system integration and internal silos
Dependence on national carriers (~70% of operations)
Need to align with the National Aviation Strategy, expand connectivity, and improve operational efficiency
Bridging Airlines and Operations
Externally: Collaborate with national aviation stakeholders, tourism programs, and global aviation events to develop business cases and expand routes
Internally: Implement a key account structure with national carriers and Jedco stakeholders to align operational and commercial needs
Act as a central integrator across finance, operations, marketing, and customer experience, resolving issues from slot allocation to multilingual signage for new airlines
Advocate for system integration, including enhanced SAP use and CRM implementation to document and share airline interactions
Airlines operating at KAIA increased by ~22%, with 73 airlines in 2025
Destinations expanded from 135 to 168, including more unique routes
Traffic and revenue in H1 2025 exceeded budget expectations
Demonstrates the effectiveness of a holistic, ecosystem-wide approach and strong partnerships with national carriers
Highlight: Growth driven by strategic alignment, stakeholder collaboration, and internal integration
Breaking down internal silos is essential for coordinated airline support (e.g., signage language, operational requirements)
Skilled resources and knowledge sharing enable high-level engagement with airlines and support long-term strategic goals
Detailed account plans to be finalised by end of 2025 for guiding 2026 efforts
Goal: Position KAIA as a regional hub connecting Southeast Asia to Africa, while maintaining strong links to Europe and North America
Focus on enhanced inter-terminal connectivity, reduced minimum connecting times, and seamless operations across four terminals
New terminal opening in 2027 will further increase capacity and operational flexibility, supporting KAIA’s strategic global positioning
Quote:
“KAIA’s growth demonstrates that strategic alignment, stakeholder collaboration, and a clear vision for connectivity are the keys to transforming an airport into a globally competitive hub.”
