JEDDAH — The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej said that the expansion project at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah will raise its capacity to 18 million from 8 million passengers, with the project completion scheduled for October 2027.Speaking at the 6th Hajj Conference and Exhibition at Jeddah Superdome, he affirmed that the aviation sector plays a pivotal role in advancing the objectives of the Pilgrim Service Program. He noted that, with the support of the leadership, year-round efforts are underway to ensure the comfort and convenience of pilgrims during the Hajj season across six major airports.Al-Duailej said that King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah handled a record 52 million passengers last year. He highlighted ongoing development projects aimed at expanding operational capacity and enhancing the quality of services provided to passengers and pilgrims at the airport.The GACA chief explained that these projects include the upgrading and rehabilitation of Terminal 4 to accommodate more than 15 million passengers, the development of the airport's Hajj terminals to handle 16 million passengers, and the expansion of Terminal 1.Al-Duailej affirmed that the aviation sector is a fundamental pillar for achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Hajj Service Program. He pointed out that the “Traveler without a bag” program has served nearly 4.5 million pilgrims since its launch about four years ago, and through it, about 6.7 million bags were handled by transporting luggage from accommodation to aircraft. This is part of initiatives aimed at reducing waiting times and facilitating travel procedures, in addition to expanding group travel services, electronic gates, and the “Makkah Route” initiative.Al-Duailej also pointed out that the GACA is evaluating airlines based on their commitment to enhancing passenger services. In addition, efforts are underway to automate the pilgrims' journey through smart pathways and electronic gates at airports, enabling pilgrims to complete passport control procedures in less than a minute.