Saudia shifts domestic operations to Riyadh airport’s new Terminal 5

State-owned Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) has announced that its domestic operations at Riyadh’s King Khalid International airport are shifting from Terminal 3 to the new Terminal 5.

In a statement, the airline said that the move will happen at midnight on Monday, August 22.

Important announcement about all domestic flights from/to #Riyadh

Find more:https://t.co/tdne0QZIXl pic.twitter.com/EM4lGpQNNh

— SAUDIA | السعودية (@Saudi_Airlines) August 20, 2016

Spread across 106,500 square metres, the new facility will offer some 36 check-in desks for Saudia customers including 30 for economy class passengers.

It will also have 10 self-service machines that will help customers print boarding passes.

The terminal is special-needs friendly with 30 elevators and escalators and will provide more prayer areas and bathrooms.

Passengers will also be offered free shuttle buses around-the-clock between the domestic and international terminals by the airport.

Saudia plans to operate 1,349 flights during its first week including 666 departures and 683 arrivals, local daily Arab News reported.

Mohammed Ali Al-Bakri, deputy CEO for strategic projects at Saudia, told the paper that technical capabilities in the new terminal will allow the airline to implement its “operational plans”.

Local cost operator flynas also shifted all its domestic operations at the King Khalid airport to Terminal 5 on August 13.

Notice to all passengers traveling domestically to/from KKIA in Riyadh!!https://t.co/iO0pw8k5r0 pic.twitter.com/2mNjVCE8yP

— flynas طيران ناس (@flynas) August 9, 2016

The kingdom’s first privately-run terminal, the new facility is being operated by a subsidiary of Irish airport operator Dublin Airport Authority (DAA).

With a capacity of up to 12 million passengers annually, the terminal can accommodate more than 16 light-bodied or eight wide-bodied aircraft.

It will also have 60 check-in desks, about 4,500 sq m of retail and food and beverage outlets and a parking lot that can accommodate 3,000 vehicles.

Saudi has seen strong growth in air travel – domestic passenger numbers at the King Khalid airport rose by 7.4 per cent to 11.7 million last year.