A new airport is currently under construction in Saudi Arabia. The Red Sea International Airport (RSI) is part of a megaproject on the country's Red Sea coast to attract tourism. Saudi Arabia first announced development along the Red Sea in 2017, with the airport starting construction in 2021. The airport is part of the country's Vision 2030 plan, which includes attracting 100 million annual visitors by 2030.

The Red Sea International Airport will allow passengers to visit cities on the Red Sea coast more easily. Passengers, especially international travelers, currently must fly to airports in major cities that are more well-connected. These airports include King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh and King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah. The airport aims to provide passengers with direct access to the region from domestic and international destinations. 

The Red Sea International Airport will open sometime before the end of this year. British architecture firm Foster + Partners is designing the airport with sustainability in mind. Renewable energy will power the airport's operation, and there will be a green oasis with live plants. Furthermore, the Red Sea Airport will be the Middle East's first carbon-neutral airport.

Red Sea International Airport will incorporate ideas that no airport worldwide has done before. Passengers' checked baggage will go straight to their accommodation instead of through baggage claim. Once arriving at the airport, passengers will go straight to five departure suites, each with a pod design. Each suite will have all of the amenities that passengers need. When passengers depart, their checked bags will go directly to their flights from the check-in facility.

Once operational, Red Sea International Airport can accommodate one million domestic and international passengers annually. The airport is in a central location: around 250 million people across three continents are within a four-hour flight of the Red Sea. The short flight times should attract passengers interested in a short beach holiday. The Red Sea project targets travelers who want a luxury vacation without hurting the environment. As the world determines ways to combat climate change, making aviation more environmentally friendly has become more important.

A drone video published in August shows significant progress on Red Sea Airport's construction. The airport's curved form and layout will blend with the desert's natural features. A central drop-off and pick-up area will be where passengers meet before or after their flights. Saudi developer Red Sea Global sees the airport as the first part of its wider tourism ambitions, which include designing hotels. 

Gerard Evenden, Head of Studio at Foster + Partners, said the following to Arabian Business in August: "The Red Sea International Airport has been envisaged as a gateway to one of the most unique resorts in the world and an integral part of the visitor experience. Inspired by the colors and textures of the desert landscape, the design seeks to create a calm and luxurious journey through the terminal and will become a transit hub for visitors coming in by both land and air."

The Red Sea project will have 50 resorts, 8,000 hotel rooms, and more than 1,000 residential properties once completed in 2030. These amenities will spread across 22 islands and six inland sites. Red Sea International Airport will connect the entire region through a single entry point.

Airlines are starting to announce plans to fly to Red Sea International Airport. On September 12, Saudia became the first airline to announce operations at the airport. Saudia, along with airport operator daa International, agreed with Red Sea Global to start regular scheduled services. The three organizations will also conduct joint research on using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at the airport.

Red Sea International Airport will start with nonstop flights to Riyadh and Jeddah before launching international flights in 2024. The airport will likely offer flights to major hubs across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Another new Saudi airport, Neom Bay Airport (NUM), near the proposed megacity, has already started offering direct flights to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Dubai International Airport (DXB). As Red Sea International Airport expands, expect to see flights to new domestic and international destinations.

Saudi Arabia sees Red Sea International Airport as an incubator for innovations in the aviation industry. The airport is looking at using electric vertical takeoff and landing planes (eVTOLs) to help aviation meet its goal of net zero emissions by 2050. Electric aircraft and sustainable aviation fuel will eventually become key to the airport's operations.

As previously mentioned, the airport will also remove passengers' headaches at baggage claim. Passengers sometimes have to wait for a long period before receiving their luggage. Furthermore, someone else accidentally taking a passenger's suitcase can worsen their arrival experience. These issues will no longer exist since luggage is sent directly to a passenger's accommodation. If successful, this model is something airports worldwide may adopt in the future.