Latest news with #NEOMInternationalAirport
Saudi Gazette
25-05-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
GACA: Riyadh airport emerges topper with a compliance rate of 90%
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued on Saturday its April 2025 report on airport and national carrier compliance with flight schedules, naming King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh as the top performer in the first category of international airports handling over 15 million passengers annually. The Riyadh airport recorded a compliance rate of 90 percent. King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Abha International Airport, NEOM International Airport, Turaif Airport, and Wadi Al-Dawasir Airport are also among the top performers across five categories. The report evaluates performance based on flights departing or arriving within 15 minutes of their scheduled time, aiming to give travelers a clear view of how well airlines and airports adhere to schedules, while also supporting efforts to improve service quality and enhance the overall travel experience. In the second category of international airports handling between 5 million and 15 million passengers annually, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam took the top spot with 87 percent. In the third category of international airports with 2 million to 5 million passengers annually, Abha International Airport ranked first with a 91 percent compliance rate. NEOM International Airport led the fourth category, for international airports with fewer than 2 million passengers annually, achieving 95 percent compliance. In the fifth category of domestic airports, Turaif Airport and Wadi Al-Dawasir Airport both ranked first with a perfect 100 percent compliance rate. At the airline level, Saudia achieved an 89 percent on-time arrival rate and an 89 percent on-time departure rate. Flynas recorded 86 percent for arrivals and 91 percent for departures, while flyadeal posted 87 percent for arrivals and 91 percent for departures. Highlighting the top-performing domestic and international routes, the report showed that the Riyadh–Abha route achieved a 96 percent on-time performance among domestic flights, while the Riyadh–Amman route ranked first internationally with a 97 percent compliance rate. These efforts align with the objectives of the National Aviation Strategy, which seeks to boost the Kingdom's position as a leading regional aviation hub by enhancing operational standards, improving efficiency, and raising the quality of services provided to travelers.
Arabian Business
31-03-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
NEOM chief reveals first details of car-free vertical city THE LINE: Report
NEOM's Chief Development Officer Denis Hickey has revealed fresh details about THE LINE, a vertical metropolis under construction in Saudi Arabia, during a presentation at Davos. Hickey outlined how the three-dimensional city will function as a high-density, car-free environment with an integrated transport network across its 500-metre height. 'Everything you need will be within a five-minute walk,' Hickey said, according to a report by the Saudi Gazette. Saudi Arabia's 500-metre tall city THE LINE promises 5-minute access to all amenities 'You will step outside your home and immediately have access to schools, restaurants, workspaces, hospitals, and entertainment—without needing a car, ever. This isn't just about making a city compact. It's about designing a place that prioritizes human well-being over congestion,' he added. THE LINE will maintain consistent height throughout its length, creating what Hickey described as a 'canyon-like structure' where residents move both vertically and horizontally. 'This is not a single building — it is an entire city, with its own grid system,' he explained, adding: 'Think about Manhattan. You don't need a car in Manhattan because the subway and avenues make everything accessible. Now imagine taking that concept and evolving it — instead of moving just horizontally, The LINE allows you to move seamlessly upward as well.' NEOM chief reveals transport system for World's first major car-free metropolis A key feature of THE LINE is its complete elimination of cars in favour of a six-tier mobility system. Hickey positioned this as a departure from traditional urban development. 'Urban sprawl is outdated. We are moving beyond the old way of expanding cities by simply adding more roads. The LINE will be the world's first major city built without cars. Instead, residents will move using a high-speed underground rail system, general mass transit, and a network of rapid vertical transportation.' The transport infrastructure includes a high-speed rail network allowing residents to travel the entire length of THE LINE in 20 minutes, with a 25-minute connection to NEOM International Airport. General mass transit stations will be positioned every 1.5 to 2 kilometres, while vertical transport nodes will replace conventional lifts, enabling movement both upwards and sideways. 'When people hear 'no cars,' they ask, 'How will I get around?' The answer is simple: faster and more efficiently than in any city today. The average commute will be 20 minutes or less anywhere inside The LINE,' Hickey said. The system will be complemented by micro-mobility solutions, pedestrian pathways, and AI-driven logistics. 2034 World Cup Stadium to float 350 metres above ground in NEOM's THE LINE Among the revelations was a stadium suspended 350 metres above ground, designed to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, the report said. 'This will be a stadium like nothing seen before,' Hickey said. 'The playing field will sit at the height of the Empire State Building. Fans will experience games in a completely new way — suspended in the sky, with breathtaking views across the city.' The stadium forms part of a network of landmarks throughout THE LINE. 'We're not just building a place to live. We're building a destination,' Hickey added. 'Whether it's world-class sports arenas, concert venues, museums, or immersive public spaces, The LINE will be an experience, not just a city.' Hickey addressed concerns about exclusivity, emphasising that THE LINE is designed for a range of residents, not just the wealthy, the report added. 'This is not Billionaires' Row,' he said. 'We are designing a city where everyone has equal access to the best of urban living. In most cities, if you don't live near the park or downtown, you miss out on the best amenities. In The LINE, every resident will have immediate access to green spaces, infrastructure, and cultural landmarks.' The first phase, called Hidden Marina, will house over 200,000 people with integrated schools, places of worship, police and fire stations, hospitals, and commercial districts. Hickey also clarified misconceptions about THE LINE's glass facade and climate control. 'The glass facade of The LINE is not about trapping heat—it is about reflecting sunlight and maintaining a comfortable urban climate,' he said. 'The city will be breathable and open, allowing natural airflow and sustainable temperature regulation.' Artificial intelligence will manage transport, energy efficiency, and security, which Hickey described as functioning 'not as 'Big Brother,' but rather as a guardian angel—improving security, optimising transport, and making the city work seamlessly.' He concluded by confirming that THE LINE has moved beyond conceptual stages and is now under construction. 'This is not science fiction. The cranes are up, the workers are on site, and The LINE is becoming a reality,' he said.
Gulf Insider
28-02-2025
- Automotive
- Gulf Insider
No Cars, No Limits: NEOM Reveals How Life Will Unfold In The LINE
Denis Hickey, chief development officer of NEOM, unveiled new details on how The LINE will function as a fully integrated, high-density, car-free city, emphasizing its livability, transport network, and groundbreaking design. NEOM shared a video of Hickey's session about THE LINE at Davos, where he provided a clearer, more immersive vision of daily life inside the city, detailing how residents will experience an urban environment unlike anything built before. For the first time, Hickey expanded on what it will be like to live inside The LINE. Instead of sprawling streets and neighborhoods, the city will operate as a three-dimensional vertical metropolis, built with modular sections stacked in a linear format. 'Everything you need will be within a five-minute walk,' Hickey said. 'You will step outside your home and immediately have access to schools, restaurants, workspaces, hospitals, and entertainment—without needing a car, ever. This isn't just about making a city compact. It's about designing a place that prioritizes human well-being over congestion.' The city's 500-meter height will remain consistent across its entire length, creating a canyon-like structure where residents will move vertically and horizontally with ease. 'This is not a single building — it is an entire city, with its own grid system,' Hickey explained. 'Think about Manhattan. You don't need a car in Manhattan because the subway and avenues make everything accessible. Now imagine taking that concept and evolving it — instead of moving just horizontally, The LINE allows you to move seamlessly upward as well.' One of The LINE's most groundbreaking features is its elimination of cars entirely, replacing traditional road networks with an ultra-efficient six-tier mobility system. Hickey explained how this would transform daily movement. 'Urban sprawl is outdated. We are moving beyond the old way of expanding cities by simply adding more roads. The LINE will be the world's first major city built without cars. Instead, residents will move using a high-speed underground rail system, general mass transit, and a network of rapid vertical transportation.' At the heart of this system is a high-speed rail (HSR) network that will allow residents to travel the entire length of The LINE in just 20 minutes. The rail will also serve as a direct connection to NEOM International Airport, reducing travel time to only 25 minutes. Complementing this, general mass transit (GMT) stations will be placed every 1.5 to 2 kilometers, ensuring that residents are always within a short distance of reliable transport. Designed from the ground up, rather than retrofitted onto an existing city, this transit system will eliminate congestion and improve accessibility across the urban environment. Moving vertically will be just as seamless, with next-generation rapid vertical transport nodes replacing traditional elevators. These high-speed systems will allow residents to travel both upwards and sideways, mimicking a natural city grid but in a three-dimensional format. 'When people hear 'no cars,' they ask, 'How will I get around?' The answer is simple: faster and more efficiently than in any city today. The average commute will be 20 minutes or less anywhere inside The LINE,' Hickey said. The system is further enhanced by micromobility solutions, pedestrian pathways, and AI-driven logistics, all working in harmony to create an environment where travel is seamless, efficient, and sustainable. Another revelation from Hickey's Davos address was the futuristic stadium suspended 350 meters above ground, designed to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup and other global sporting events. 'This will be a stadium like nothing seen before,' Hickey said. 'The playing field will sit at the height of the Empire State Building. Fans will experience games in a completely new way — suspended in the sky, with breathtaking views across the city.' The stadium is part of The LINE's network of anchor assets, ensuring that every section of the city has iconic cultural and entertainment landmarks. 'We're not just building a place to live. We're building a destination,' Hickey added. 'Whether it's world-class sports arenas, concert venues, museums, or immersive public spaces, The LINE will be an experience, not just a city.' Addressing concerns that The LINE could become an exclusive city for the wealthy, Hickey stressed that the project is being developed with a full range of housing, including affordable and essential worker accommodations. 'This is not Billionaires' Row,' he said. 'We are designing a city where everyone has equal access to the best of urban living. In most cities, if you don't live near the park or downtown, you miss out on the best amenities. In The LINE, every resident will have immediate access to green spaces, infrastructure, and cultural landmarks.' He also noted that The LINE's first phase, Hidden Marina, will accommodate over 200,000 people, with schools, places of worship, police and fire stations, hospitals, and commercial districts all integrated into the urban fabric. Hickey also tackled concerns about energy use and climate control inside The LINE, explaining that the city will not rely on air conditioning as many assume. 'The glass facade of The LINE is not about trapping heat—it is about reflecting sunlight and maintaining a comfortable urban climate,' he said. 'The city will be breathable and open, allowing natural airflow and sustainable temperature regulation.' Artificial intelligence will play a crucial role in managing everything from transportation to energy efficiency, making the city not just technologically advanced but also highly adaptive to residents' needs. 'The goal is not to build a city that just looks futuristic—it has to function in a way that enhances daily life,' Hickey emphasized. 'This means AI that doesn't act as 'Big Brother,' but rather as a guardian angel—improving security, optimizing transport, and making the city work seamlessly.' Hickey closed his address by reaffirming that The LINE is no longer just a vision—it is actively under construction, with foundations already being laid. 'This is not science fiction. The cranes are up, the workers are on site, and The LINE is becoming a reality,' he said.
