‘Passenger pods’, seaplanes, air taxis: What to expect from Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Airport by 2025-end

Dubai: Saudi Arabia's ambitious Red Sea International Airport (RSI), a critical component of the Red Sea Global (RSG) luxury tourism destination, is racing towards completion ahead of its grand opening by the close of 2025. According to a top official, the ambitious project has much to offer travellers, from passenger pods to seaplanes and air taxis.

Red Sea International Airport is not just another aviation hub with an annual capacity designed for 1 million visitors (translating to 2 million passenger movements). It is a meticulously planned gateway that promises to redefine luxury air travel. And it is all set to be fully realised by the close of 2025.

The airport, which began receiving international passengers in April 2024 with bi-weekly flights from Dubai, is partially operational. By summer this year, the main terminal's opening will bring the airport closer to its goal of serving 1 million tourists a year by 2030, according to Abdulaziz Alabdan, Executive Director of Airport Operations at Red Sea Global.

Alabdan told Gulf News, "We tend to call our airport a boutique airport. We want everybody to have the same mindset that we are guest-centric in everything we do and strive for excellence."

The efficiency of RSI's passenger processing is designed to be exceptionally swift. Alabdan revealed an impressive operational target: "You would be off the airplane and out of the airport in less than six minutes." This speed, according to Alabdan, is facilitated by cutting-edge technological innovations.

At the forefront is a Smart Baggage Management solution, where travellers’ luggage is automatically processed and delivered directly to their respective resorts, eliminating the need for visitors to navigate traditional baggage reclaim carousels.

For departures, the convenience begins even before guests reach the airport. Remote check-in stations at their luxury hotels and resorts allow them to effortlessly confirm their bags, which are then handled as a "back-of-house" service by the airport staff. Alabdan anticipates that 85 per cent of departing passengers will utilise this remote check-in process.

The Main Terminal Building (MTB), the airport's central hub, has five distinct "pods" or processors. Each of these pods offers integrated security, immigration, and customs services. Alabdan said this decentralised approach is a key differentiator from conventional airports.

"Each of these pods would have security, immigration and customs. So, it is not centralised. Then you do go to your gate. No, you are already at the gate right off the bat." Once cleared through their designated pod, passengers are immediately at their gate, often with direct views of their aircraft from the curbside, minimising walking and wait times. Looking ahead, plans are already in motion to implement less intrusive security screening processes, potentially incorporating advanced technologies like facial recognition and "security tunnels" where passengers are screened without needing to stop.

RSI's initial operations have been managed through a smaller Air Taxi Terminal (ATT), primarily serving seaplane and general aviation traffic since September 2023. This interim facility has paved the way for the full launch of the Main Terminal Building. Phase one of the MTB's operations, which includes bringing three of its five pods online, is slated for the end of Q2 2025, with the entire airport project targeted for 100 per cent completion by Q3/Q4 2025.

That said, RSI is built for the future. It boasts a formidable 3,700-meter runway capable of handling Code F aircraft, including the world's largest passenger jet, the Airbus A380. This ensures ample future capacity for wide-body operations as demand grows. Alabdan said, "We've been receiving those aircraft types now and then. In the future, when we are fully operational... airlines might upgrade, depending on the volumes, to a wide-body aircraft, which we have capacity for."

Saudia, flydubai, and flynas currently serve the airport. Alabdan confirmed that RSG has been in discussions with over 60 airlines globally, including major international carriers. "In principle, everybody is inclined and hyped to operate at our airport," he said. While the current focus remains on strengthening regional connectivity, with active discussions underway with Qatar Airways, the pipeline includes ambitious plans for direct flights to key European hubs.

These targets include London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Frankfurt, and Paris Charles de Gaulle, based on meticulous market analysis and booking trends from RSG's luxury resorts.

Further enhancing RSI's unique connectivity is Fly Red Sea - a seaplane service in Saudi Arabia's Red Sea region. This dedicated operation runs a fleet of four hybrid Cessna Caravan seaplanes. Alabdan said, "When I say hybrid, it is because it can land on land and water aerodromes, so the floats have retractable landing gears."

These aircraft can facilitate seamless transfers for premium guests directly from the airport to the various islands and luxury resorts. The seaplanes boast a business-class cabin accommodating six to eight premium guests, ensuring comfort even on short transfers.

Fly Red Sea is exclusively fueled by Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Looking ahead, plans are in place to expand the seaplane fleet, with two more aircraft expected soon to meet anticipated demand.

Longer term, there's a visionary outlook to potentially transition to eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft) as this emerging technology matures and becomes commercially viable, said Alabdan.

"You don't want to expand on the seaplanes while you have a strategic plan to shift to eVTOLs... Depending on the volumes and demand, we are expanding the fleet as needed, and all of this is studied meticulously." This strategic foresight highlights RSG's commitment to adopting future-proof, environmentally conscious solutions.