KAPSARC – Tourism Expansion and Air Transport in Saudi Arabia

The main theme of the document is the expansion of tourism and air transport in Saudi Arabia in the context of growth, connectivity, and efficiency.

The document examines how Saudi Arabia can balance tourism expansion with aviation decarbonization by comparing two network models: the traditional hub-and-spoke system and a point-to-point network that allows for more direct international routes. The study shows that direct flights can reduce congestion, fuel consumption, and emissions by 6% to 80% depending on route characteristics and fleet composition. Despite ambitious policies, a comprehensive roadmap for aviation decarbonization is lacking.