From watching the planes taking off at departures to sampling that pre-flight pint, flying can be a hugely exciting experience.
And, with the world’s largest airport set to open in 2030, aviation enthusiasts now have something new to set their sights on: a mammoth airport with six giant runways to the tune of £23 billion.
King Salman International Airport will be opening in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in seven years’ time and is anticipated to become the biggest airport in the world.
Spanning over 57 square kilometres, an impressive 12 square kilometres has reportedly been set aside for retail outlets – so you can shop while you wait to board.
The design of the airport is being overseen by Foster + Partners, a company that has also worked on the Midtown Bus Terminal in New York City and the new Marseille Airport.
It will integrate the current terminals in place at King Khalid International Airport, which has been operational since 1983.
Things to do in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:
Want to plan ahead of the new airport opening? Here are a few tourist favourites in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:
- The National Museum
- Al Rajhi Mosque
- Riyadh Zoo Monument
- Wadi Namar Waterfall
- Grenada Mall
- Masmak Fortress.
Though the airlines that will operate out of King Salman International Airport have not yet been announced, the construction is set to create approximately 150,000 jobs, from air traffic control operators to baristas.
The new construction is estimated to serve 120 million passengers, with this likely increasing to 185 million by 2050, and is part of a drive to increase tourism in Riyadh.
‘The airport project is in line with Saudi Arabia’s vision to transform Riyadh to be among the top ten city economies in the world and to support the growth of Riyadh’s population to 15–20 million people by 2030,’ a statement from the Saudi Press Agency read.
The largest airport in the world is currently King Fahd International Airport, also known as Dammam Airport, in Saudi Arabia.
Opened to commercial operations in 1999, it previously served as a US airbase during the Gulf War, now providing connections to 43 destinations.
More than 10 million passengers travel in and out of the airport each year, with 37 airlines operating here. It’s also the third largest airport in Saudi Arabia in terms of passenger volume.
Largest airports in the world:
- King Fahd International Airport (DMM) 299 square miles (774 square kilometers) – Saudi Arabia
- Denver International Airport (DEN) 53 square miles (137 square kilometers) – Colorado
- Istanbul Airport (IST) 29.5 square miles (76 square kilometers) – Istanbul
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) 26 square miles (67 square kilometers) – Texas
- Orlando International Airport (MCO) 20 square miles (52 square kilometers) – Florida
- Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) 18 square miles (47 square kilometers) – Washington
- Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) 18 square miles (47 square kilometers) – Beijing
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) 17 square miles (44 square kilometers) – Texas
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) 15 square miles (39 square kilometers) – Shanghai
- Cairo International Airport (CAI) 14 square miles (36 square kilometers) – Cairo
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