Hate to be the annoying one to point it out but technically the new airport isn't a new airport, rather it's a new terminal replacing the north and south terminals. So same airport location just different building. As a Jeddah native myself, I was born in 1983 so the old airport was closed by then. I do however remember as a kid driving with the family to the Ikea furniture store and noticing some of the roads had runway and taxiway markings where the old airport used to be. Apparently, the main terminal buildings are still there to this day.

Thanks for pointing this out. Not annoyed at all. Actually, in my original comment I got the date wrong - I started in Jeddah in 1981. Regarding the "new" airport - I was wondering where they would build a whole new airport. I should have realised that the runways etc weren't being shown as "new", only the buildings. Will be very nice when finished. The disruption must be pretty bad at the moment though.

Eric Perryman Hahaha, sorry not laughing at you but disruption became the norm at the current airport. Call it "organized chaos" lol. In all seriousness though, the new airport construction hasn't affected current operations but of course the disruption still occurs due to the fact the current terminal was poorly designed. No one should have built a terminal the relied 100% on the mobile lounges (aka scissor rising buses). The new terminal is placed between runways 34C and 34R, whereas the current terminal is between 34C and 34L.

+Khalid Sam I was wondering if those "mobile lounges" were still in use. I have not seen them in any other airport over the years. I think everyone there will be well experienced at "organising chaos" in Jeddah. Even so, I miss the place. Nice to hear from you.

Eric Perryman Absolutely true lol. Other airports are organized under normal circumstances but their system might fall apart at the smallest of issues, whereas the guys in Jeddah would say "business as usual". There maybe a handful still left but it was clear that they switched them out with regular airport buses and staircases. There is a small cult following on the boarding system there because it's rare sight for an international airport to be able to board a passenger jet so close and in person giving you a chance to take in the view of the plane you're about to board as well as the sights and sounds around you.