8 Saudi Flights to Transport 2,500 Filipino Pilgrims

RIYADH, 3 December 2004 — Eight flights of Saudi Arabian Airlines will transport some 2,600 Filipino pilgrims starting Dec. 22, the Philippine Embassy said yesterday.

Ambassador Bahnarim A. Guinomla, quoting a message from the Office on Muslim Affairs (OMA) in Manila, said that all the flights except one will be landing at the Madinah International Airport.

The last flight, Saudi Arabian Airlines flight no. SV 865, which will depart Manila on Jan. 13, 2005, will land at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, although representations are being made to also permit this flight to land in Madinah.

Guinomla said the planned Manila to Madinah flights will spare the pilgrims from having to travel by land from either Jeddah or Makkah for the visit to the Prophet’s (pbuh) mosque.