King Khalid Airport’s Terminal 5 said to start partial ops in May

King Khalid International Airport’s (KKIA) Terminal 5 is expected to commence partial operations in May, Makkah newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources.

The official opening date will be announced by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the kingdom’s aviation regulator.

The terminal will be used for flights operated by Flynas, Saudi Gulf Airlines (if required licenses are obtained) and Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia), which will move from Terminal 3, the sources added.

In February, GACA signed a multi-million euro contract with Ireland’s daa International to manage and operate the new terminal facility at KKIA, as part of a wider plan to privatize airports and diversify revenue away from oil.

The new 106,500 square meter terminal has a capacity of up to 12 million domestic passengers per year. It can also accommodate 16 narrow-bodied aircraft or up to eight wide-bodied planes, and has 60 check-in desks, 20 self-service check-in positions and a new car park with spaces for about 3,000 vehicles.