Jeddah Airports Company (Jedco) has appointed global programme management firm Turner & Townsend to design and implement an enterprise-wide asset management system at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah.

The programme will be aligned with ISO 55001, the international standard for asset management, providing a common framework for managing the airport’s assets throughout their entire lifecycle.

The system is designed to establish shared asset management objectives, clarify responsibilities across the organisation, strengthen the governance of asset information and provide a consistent approach to balancing cost, risk and performance.

ISO 55001 will serve as the international benchmark for the system, which will also undergo independent assessment.

KAIA is a strategically important aviation gateway for Saudi Arabia, serving as the main hub for national carrier Saudia and a key entry point for millions of pilgrims travelling to Makkah and Madinah each year.

The management of the airport’s terminals, airfield infrastructure, baggage handling systems and building services throughout their lifecycles plays an important role in operational reliability, safety and the passenger experience.

Jedco said the programme has already produced several milestones. Its first corporate Asset Management Policy has been formally approved, while an executive-level governance structure for asset management decisions has been established.

Work is also under way on the Strategic Asset Management Plan and the first Asset Management Plans covering critical airport systems.

Since the programme started, Jedco and Turner & Townsend have completed a comprehensive gap assessment against every clause of the ISO 55001 standard. The findings have subsequently been converted into a prioritised roadmap for improvement.

Source: TradeArabia

Britain’s Heathrow Airport has indicated that the opening of its planned third runway could be pushed back to 2039, highlighting the scale of regulatory and infrastructure work required for the expansion.

A Heathrow spokesperson said the airport’s priority remains securing planning permission by 2029. Once approval is obtained, the airport expects the new runway to become operational within 10 years.

Heathrow previously identified 2035 as an ambitious opening target, but the airport said achieving that timeline would have required significant changes to existing regulations and government policy.

The airport said completing the runway within a decade of receiving planning permission has consistently been its core scenario.

Britain’s Labour government backed the construction of a third runway at Heathrow last year, arguing that the expansion would contribute to economic growth.

The government approved Heathrow’s £49 billion ($64.92 billion) expansion and upgrade programme. The plan includes around £15 billion in previously planned upgrades, while approximately £33 billion is allocated to the new runway, the rerouting of London’s orbital motorway and construction of a new terminal.

Located west of London, Heathrow is Europe’s busiest airport and currently operates at full capacity. It has two runways, compared with four at both Paris Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt airports and six at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.

Source: Reuters

Jeddah Airports Company will begin the phased launch of operations at Terminal 4 of King Abdulaziz International Airport on Sunday, September 27, 2026, as part of efforts to expand facilities, improve operational efficiency and handle growing passenger numbers.

Wizz Air, AJet and SalamAir will be the first airlines to move their operations to Terminal 4 on Sunday. The transition will continue with Fly Jinnah and Nesma Airlines relocating on Monday, September 28, followed by Akasa Air on Tuesday, September 29.

SyrianAir and Pegasus are scheduled to move on Thursday, October 1, while Azerbaijan Airlines and Tunisair will transfer their operations on Saturday, October 3.

Covering 97,000 square meters, Terminal 4 has an annual passenger-handling capacity of 15 million. The facility includes modern infrastructure and advanced operational systems, as well as a dedicated area for group check-in processing for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.

The opening comes as King Abdulaziz International Airport continues to experience strong passenger growth. The airport handled a record 53.4 million passengers in 2025, its highest annual traffic volume to date.

Jeddah Airports Company has advised passengers to confirm their departure terminal before travelling to the airport. Travellers can check the latest information through their airline’s official communication channels or King Abdulaziz International Airport’s official website and social media platforms.

Source: SPA

Türkiye has opened a fourth main runway at Istanbul Airport, with officials saying the new facility will reduce aircraft taxiing and airborne times while helping airlines save fuel.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan inaugurated the east-west runway on Friday, describing it as the airport’s first runway operating in that direction. The project involved an investment of €890 million, or more than $1 billion.

Istanbul Airport previously had three main and two reserve runways, all oriented north-south. The new facility brings the total number of runways to six, including four main runways.

The airport is ultimately planned to have nine runways, comprising six main and three reserve runways.

The new runway measures 2,820 metres in length and 45 metres in width. Its east-west orientation will allow aircraft to depart directly in that direction, reducing the need for additional manoeuvres after takeoff.

Erdoğan said the new configuration is expected to reduce taxiing and airborne times, generating savings in fuel and time. Its proximity to hangar facilities is also expected to support faster general aviation operations and reduce taxiing and waiting times on domestic and eastbound routes.

He added that the project would contribute to lower emissions while improving operational flexibility, takeoff and landing safety and on-time departure performance, including during adverse weather conditions.

Initially, the new runway will be used only for takeoffs. Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said it would particularly serve flights to Anatolia, Central Asia and the Arabian Peninsula.

Authorities also plan to introduce simultaneous four-runway operations at Istanbul Airport in the future. The airport began independent simultaneous triple-parallel runway operations in April 2025, becoming the first airport in Europe to do so.

Located along the Black Sea coast, Istanbul Airport became fully operational in April 2019 and has since developed into a major international transit hub.

Erdoğan called the airport one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects undertaken in Istanbul, saying it had strengthened Türkiye’s global brand.

According to a report by global travel intelligence provider OAG released Wednesday, Istanbul has overtaken London Heathrow as the world’s most internationally connected airport, with potential links to 337 destinations worldwide. Turkish Airlines operates around 80% of flights at the airport.

Istanbul Airport has also recently overtaken Heathrow as Europe’s busiest airport by passenger numbers.

The airport currently has an annual capacity of 90 million passengers, with its full development plan designed to eventually accommodate up to 200 million passengers a year.

Istanbul Airport handled a record 84.5 million passengers in 2025, ranking as Europe’s second-busiest airport after Heathrow and the eighth-busiest worldwide. It is targeting 90 million passengers this year.

Erdoğan said the airport handled 8.15 million passengers in July, making it Europe’s busiest aviation hub that month. On August 16, it recorded a daily passenger record for both Türkiye and Europe with 291,000 passengers. On August 30, the airport also set a new daily flight record with 1,787 movements.

Source: Daily Sabah

The Sultanate of Oman is expanding its aviation links with African countries through new air service agreements and the launch of direct routes, strengthening connectivity between the Middle East and Africa.

Botswana

Oman recently signed an Air Services Agreement with Botswana to strengthen air connectivity and establish a framework for passenger and air cargo services between the two countries.

The agreement covers operational and technical matters and allows airlines to operate an unlimited number of direct flights. It also enables carriers to expand their networks and establish codeshare arrangements, supporting closer cooperation in air transport.

Angola

Oman and Angola have also signed an agreement covering cooperation in aviation. The arrangement provides for unlimited direct flights, network expansion and codeshare partnerships, alongside regulatory and technical cooperation between the two sides.

Rwanda

SalamAir has launched a new route connecting Muscat with Kigali, strengthening aviation links between Oman and Rwanda while supporting broader economic cooperation between the two countries and the wider Middle East.

Somalia

SalamAir began operating flights to Mogadishu on September 3, establishing a direct connection between the capitals of Oman and Somalia.

The new route is expected to facilitate business travel, family visits and stronger business-to-business links while creating an additional travel corridor between Oman and East Africa.

SalamAir already operates services to Nairobi, Port Sudan and Cairo in Africa, while Oman Air connects Oman with Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.

Together, the agreements and new routes reflect Oman’s efforts to broaden its aviation network across Africa and create additional opportunities for tourism, trade, business and passenger travel.

Source: Oman Daily Observer

Saudi Arabia is preparing to host the 2026 Airports Forum as the Middle East enters a period of major investment, technological development and infrastructure expansion across the aviation sector.

The forum will take place on November 30 and December 1, 2026, at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Center. It will feature four concurrent conferences covering global aviation issues, investment, airport design and construction, and women’s participation in aviation.

The event comes amid rapid growth in the region’s aviation infrastructure. According to the latest Airports Council International (ACI) data cited by organisers, airport development spending across the Middle East has reached around $180 billion, while air connectivity in the region is expected to increase by 21% in 2025.

The forum programme will examine issues including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced air mobility, airport investment, smart infrastructure, sustainability, passenger experience and future workforce requirements.

Global aviation issues

The Global Aviation Issues Conference will focus on airport security, air traffic management and emerging technologies affecting aviation operations.

Sessions will examine artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, passenger and baggage screening, operational resilience and workforce development. Discussions will also cover airspace capacity, automation, international coordination and the integration of drones and electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

Participating organisations include the International Civil Aviation Organization, GACA, MATARAT Holding, Riyadh Air, Etihad Airways, IATA, SITA, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority and the Saudi Civil Aviation Academy.

Investment and financing

The Future of Aviation Investment Conference on November 30 will examine financing requirements for the next phase of aviation development in Saudi Arabia and the wider region.

Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, discussions will cover public-private partnerships, airport concession models, investor confidence and infrastructure investment. The programme will also examine capital trends across airports, airlines, air cargo, aircraft leasing and maintenance, repair and overhaul services.

Sustainable aviation finance, green bonds, ESG-linked investment and funding opportunities for eVTOL and drone infrastructure will also feature.

Organisations taking part include the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in Saudi Arabia, daa International, Sofia Airport, the National Center for Privatization & PPP, Oman Airports and Avilis.

Airport design and construction

The Airport Design and Construction Conference on December 1 will focus on infrastructure requirements for the aviation sector’s expansion.

Topics will include new airports, terminal development, digital twins, automation and connected passenger journeys. Speakers will also address how airport projects can balance capacity, operational efficiency, sustainability, technology and changing passenger expectations.

The conference will explore the role of local identity in airport design and challenges associated with large-scale developments, including procurement, risk management, phased construction and maintaining airport operations during expansion.

Participants include King Salman International Airport, Gensler, Mott MacDonald, Riyadh Air, Foster + Partners and Grimshaw.

Women and the aviation workforce

The Women in Aviation General Assembly will conclude the forum on December 1, with discussions focused on leadership, workforce development and women’s participation in the aviation industry.

Sessions will examine the role of Saudi Vision 2030 in supporting women in aviation, alongside artificial intelligence, digital transformation, future skills, talent development, gender diversity and career opportunities.

Focus on Hajj aviation operations

The programme will also feature a dedicated session on the management of large-scale Hajj operations at Jeddah airports.

Experts in planning, airport operations, passenger experience, communications and emergency response will discuss the systems and practices used to manage the movement of millions of pilgrims during the annual Hajj season.

Industry dialogue in Riyadh

Daksha Patel, Events Director at Niche Ideas, said the aviation industry was undergoing significant changes across airport financing, infrastructure, technology, operations and workforce development.

She said the Airports Forum would bring together international industry figures and potential partners to exchange knowledge, address common challenges and explore opportunities linked to the region’s aviation expansion.

As Saudi Arabia continues to pursue its aviation objectives under Vision 2030, organisers said the four conferences will provide a platform for decision-makers and specialists in investment, technology, operations, design, policy and talent development.

The event is also expected to bring aviation leaders, investors and experts to Riyadh to discuss regional and global developments and potential areas for cooperation.

Source: AJEL.SA