Riyadh Airports Company (RAC) has confirmed that King Khalid International Airport’s Terminals 3 and 4 have reopened today – earlier than anticipated – as the Kingdom prepares for a surge in traffic ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, which will kick off with the traditional opening ceremony this Sunday.

 

As reported, the tournament’s host airport, Hamad International (HIA) inaugurated its much-anticipated terminal expansion on 10 November.

 

When refurbishment is complete, RAC is pledging a never-seen-before commercial spread at King Khalid International Airport in T3 and T4 and in an interview earlier this year, Abdulaziz Al-Asaker, Acting VP Commercial at RAC, shared his thoughts with TRBusiness on the pace of the recovery being felt at KKIA, aided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) lifting of Covid-related travel restrictions for visitors.

 

In the trade exclusive video interview filmed earlier this year, Al-Asaker said travellers to the terminals will be treated to a commercial ‘masterpiece’.

 

Last year, RAC invited bids for commercial units at Terminal’s 3 and 4 after issuing a request for proposals that includes retail units spanning travel essentials, gifts, fashion & accessories and electronics.

 

Below: TRBusiness Managing Editor e-zine, Luke Barras-Hill, spoke to Abdulaziz Al-Asaker, Acting VP Commercial at RAC in a trade exclusive video interview earlier this year.

 

 

Lagardère Travel Retail runs duty free exclusively in T1 and T2 and the current duty free contract includes the new terminals also.

 

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) first announced the development project for Terminals 3 and 4 in 2019.

 

Once open, the terminals will be able to accommodate 11 million passengers annually for international flights.

 

 

Currently, Terminals 1 and 2 serve overseas flights through international carriers and domestic carriers, respectively.

 

As reported most recently, RAC registered duty free revenue growth of +62% in the third quarter against the same period in 2019.

 

KKIA increased duty free sales across the terminals by 90% in September alone versus Q3 2019.