Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal lays the foundation stone of Al-Qunfudah Airport on Wednesday.

:: Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal laid the foundation stone of Al-Qunfudah Airport on Wednesday. The airport is part of an overall plan to expand the Kingdom’s aviation network and build new airports projected in Vision 2030.

The airport will serve 500,000 passengers annually, and will include three halls, a runway, a road network, a control tower, a car park and service venues.

The airport is expected to serve seven provinces and 50 administrative centers related to three coastal and rural areas: Makkah, Al-Baha and Asir regions.

The Makkah governor said many development projects are being planned for the region. He said the idea of the airport was conceived 10 years ago following which 14 sites were carefully studied for the project.

He had formed a committee to assess the potential site for building an airport in Al-Qunfudah. The committee assessed multiple locations in the city.

The General Authority on Civil Aviation (GACA) determined the proper regulations to ensure air traffic safety, while the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment undertook studies into the climate’s effect on aviation.

The ceremony was attended by top officials.