The airport operated as a major gateway into Mecca, mainly serving pilgrims during Haji seasons, however it also scheduled regular flights.

On June 17, 1936, an aviation school was first established in Jeddah under the supervision of Italian instructor Captain Chico.

Later on in July 16, his Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz visited the school to inspect its activities.

These airstrips were constructed in Jeddah, Riyadh, Dhahran and Hawiyah in Taif, Hofuf, Buraidah, Jizan, Al-Kharj and Afif.

On September 1945, Saudi Arabian Airlines (now known as Saudia) was established, and by 1946, became a fully government agency of the Ministry of Defense.

Jeddah Airport would see 250,000 pilgrims passing by on average, and the usage of ox-carts, walking, and camels also quickly loss popularity.

[8] On October 14, 1952, Jeddah Airport and its facilities was officially inaugurated and opened under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Saud Bin Abdulaziz.

The ceremony was attended by His Royal Highness Prince Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Defense and Aviation.

Jeddah Airport also operated four steel hangars, various shops and could store approximately 65,400 gallons of Avgas.

[12] In 1958, the Al Ain Azizia administration rushed the construction of the third city, which was made to accommodate the rising number of African hajj pilgrims.

The bridge was completed in 1963 and connected Mekka to Jeddah Airport via a series of internal roads, having cost 10,500,000 million Saudi Arabian riyals.

[16] In the same year, the administration realized the numbers were increasing, so they rushed the construction of an additional 8 new buildings with an area of 65,935 square metres, able to accommodate 10,000 pilgrims in total.

[13] By the 1970s, the rapid growth in air transportation, especially with the increase of pilgrims and Umrah performers had exceeded the capacity of the airport.

[13] Jiddah International Airport was located in the neighborhood of Al-Kandara, close to the city center of Jeddah.

Due to the airport's deficient capacity, it experienced heavy congestion during Hajj seasons peaking 600 aircraft movements daily by 1978.

In the 1980s, these T-35 Buckaroos were dug out and salvaged to be restored, and a C-130 was donated to fly the parts to Dobbins Air Reserve Base.

Experts claim that it was named after Sheikh Muhammad Bin Omrah Al-Kenaidri, the tribal chief of Al-Kandarah tribe who lived in the area during the 1940s.