Saudi Arabia schedules 2026 Future Aviation Forum amid record air travel growth

Saudi Arabia will host the 2026 Future Aviation Forum in Riyadh from April 20 to 22, bringing together more than 11,000 global aviation leaders and experts as the kingdom posts a third consecutive year of record-breaking growth in air travel.

Passenger numbers reached 140.9 million in 2025, up 9.6% year on year, while flight movements climbed 8.3% to 980,000, according to the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).

Tacking industry challenges

Held in Riyadh, the forum will convene ministers, regulators, manufacturers, airlines, airports, and industry associations to address pressing challenges facing global aviation, from supply-chain constraints and capacity bottlenecks to geopolitics and workforce development. Registration for the 2026 edition is now open.

GACA President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej said the event will unite global leaders around the theme “Unlocking Global Growth, Designing the Future Sky,” with a focus on manufacturing supply chains, capacity constraints, geopolitical disruptions, and human capital development.

The forum, launched by GACA and held under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, is recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organization as a premier global aviation leadership platform. The 2024 edition resulted in more than 100 agreements and $20 billion in deals, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s growing role as an aviation investment hub.

Surge in passenger traffic

Saleh Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, said Saudi aviation is “soaring to new heights,” supporting Vision 2030 and the National Transport and Logistics Strategy. He added that the 2026 forum will showcase unprecedented investment, growth, and innovation opportunities for global investors, suppliers, and operators.

Alongside the forum announcement, GACA released its 2025 Air Traffic Report, showing Saudi Arabia’s connectivity expanded to 176 destinations, a 78% increase over pre-pandemic levels. International passengers rose 10.2% to 76 million, while domestic traffic reached 65 million.

Looking ahead, Saudi Arabia is poised for continued expansion, with national airlines holding orders for more than 500 aircraft and major airport capacity upgrades underway across the kingdom. GACA also confirmed that the 2028 and 2030 editions of the forum will be delivered in partnership with Richard Attias and Associates, reflecting strong demand from global aviation leaders and sponsors.

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Hannah Xuchille Egot

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