Saudi Arabia Inflight Catering Market Overview

Market Size in 2024: USD 128.08 Million

Market Size in 2033: USD 173.35 Million

Market Growth Rate 2025-2033: 3.42%

According to IMARC Group's latest research publication, "Saudi Arabia Inflight Catering Market: Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2025-2033", The Saudi Arabia inflight catering market size reached USD 128.08 Million in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 173.35 Million by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 3.42% during 2025-2033.

How AI is Reshaping the Future of Saudi Arabia Inflight Catering Market

• Optimizing Menu Planning and Food Waste Reduction: AI-powered demand forecasting systems are revolutionizing meal planning by analyzing passenger demographics, flight routes, and historical consumption patterns, reducing food waste by 20-25% while ensuring adequate meal availability for religious pilgrimage flights and premium travel segments.
• Enhancing Halal Compliance and Quality Control: Machine learning algorithms are strengthening Halal certification processes through automated ingredient verification, supply chain tracking, and quality assurance protocols, ensuring complete religious compliance for the millions of Muslim pilgrims traveling to Mecca and Medina annually.
• Streamlining Inventory Management and Supply Chain: Advanced AI systems are optimizing ingredient procurement, storage management, and distribution logistics across Saudi Arabia's expanding airport network, reducing operational costs by 15-20% while maintaining freshness and quality standards for both domestic and international flights.
• Personalizing Passenger Dining Experiences: AI-driven customer preference analytics are enabling personalized meal recommendations and pre-order systems for premium passengers, enhancing the onboard dining experience for business and first-class travelers while supporting airlines' competitive differentiation strategies.
• Automating Production Scheduling and Workforce Management: Intelligent scheduling algorithms are coordinating catering production with flight schedules, crew assignments, and seasonal demand fluctuations, particularly during Hajj and Umrah peak periods, improving operational efficiency and reducing labor costs across Saudi catering facilities.

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Saudi Arabia Inflight Catering Market Trends Drivers:

Saudi Arabia's inflight catering market is experiencing robust growth driven by the massive influx of religious tourism, with over 1.83 million Hajj pilgrims recorded in 2024 and millions more participating in year-round Umrah pilgrimages. This consistent flow of religious tourists from high Muslim population countries including Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Egypt, and Malaysia is creating sustained demand for Halal-compliant catering services, requiring specialized meal preparation that adheres to strict dietary requirements and cultural preferences for long-haul flights.

The expansion of Saudi Arabia's aviation sector is creating unprecedented opportunities for inflight catering services, with the Kingdom achieving record-breaking results in 2024 including 94 million passengers transported representing a 15% year-on-year increase, alongside a 10% rise in flight activity. The launch of Riyadh Air in 2025, which has already secured strategic partnerships with leading Saudi catering company Catrion, is expected to significantly boost demand for premium inflight dining experiences, while national carrier Saudia continues to expand its international route network and enhance passenger services.

The growing emphasis on premium air travel experiences is reshaping catering requirements, with full-service carriers investing heavily in gourmet meal options, regionally-inspired cuisine, and customizable dining experiences for business and first-class passengers. Corporate travelers and high-paying passengers on long-haul flights to Europe, Asia, and North America are driving demand for restaurant-quality inflight meals, prompting Saudi catering operators to expand production facilities, recruit qualified culinary professionals, and implement advanced food handling technologies to meet international quality standards.

Our comprehensive Saudi Arabia inflight catering marketoutlook reflects both short-term tactical and long-term strategic planning. This analysis is essential for stakeholders aiming to navigate the complexities of the market and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

Saudi Arabia Inflight Catering Industry Segmentation:

The report has segmented the market into the following categories:

Food Type Insights:

• Meals
• Bakery and Confectionary
• Beverages
• Others

Flight Service Type Insights:

• Full-Service Carriers
• Low-Cost Carriers

Aircraft Seating Class Insights:

• Economy Class
• Business Class
• First Class

Breakup by Region:

• Northern and Central Region
• Western Region
• Eastern Region
• Southern Region

Recent News and Developments in Saudi Arabia Inflight Catering Market

• August 2025: Riyadh Air signed agreements with Saudi Coffee Company and Milaf Global Food Company to introduce traditional Saudi coffee and premium date varieties across its upcoming inflight and lounge offerings, enhancing the cultural authenticity of its onboard dining experience.
• January 2025: Riyadh Air announced a strategic partnership with Catrion, a leading Saudi Arabian catering company, to provide comprehensive inflight catering services as the airline prepares for its inaugural flights scheduled for October 2025.
• February 2025: Saudi Arabia's aviation sector achieved record-breaking passenger traffic with 128 million passengers transported by Saudia, Flynas, and Flyadeal in 2024, representing significant growth in demand for inflight catering services as Riyadh Air prepares for its 2025 takeoff.

Competitive Landscape:

The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players.

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