Most people ready to return to work throughout the Kingdom after spending their holidays in Jeddah are on the wait list at the King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA).
Many workers have expressed worry because their offices will re-open today. But most could not make the reservation for the return journey and will have to wait for the vacant seats after Saturday and Sunday, which means they would be late at least for two days.
According to media reports, all the flights are full, not only because of the return of holiday makers but also because all foreign Umrah pilgrims are returning home after the Eid Al-Fitr, which was on Sunday.
Waleed Al-Aloumi, assistant executive director general of the Saudi Arabian Airlines for Public Relations, said in a statement to Okaz that the tight schedule of flights is normal at this time of the year.
“Many thousands of passengers intending to travel on the Saudi Airlines over the next two days include Umrah passengers checked in at the Pilgrims’ Lounge. They will not experience any delay because their flights are being operated on a punctual schedule,” Al-Aloumi said.
The official added the KAIA experienced Thursday and Friday a great rush because of the passengers at the South Lounge who are traveling to national and international destinations.
The return of Umrah pilgrims coinciding with the return of employees to their workplaces in other towns was the reason for the rush these days, he said.
Abdullah Yunus, who is working in Alkhobar, is a passenger without reservation at the KAIA. He said he was afraid he would not be able to report at his office on Saturday because he could not find a seat in any Dammam bound flights s so far. “I have no other option but to wait for a vacant seat in any of the flights even if it is two days later,” he said.
Muhammad Saeed working in Riyadh also has the same fear because he could get a seat in the flight to the capital city. However he is thinking of traveling by road. Sources said there was no crowding of passengers with valid tickets in the domestic and international lounges because all the scheduled flights were flying as per schedule and without any cancelation. This left only passengers in the wait list at the airport.
Umrah pilgrims have been flying out on 420 flights since Aug. 15, while 40 flights departed on each of the first two days after the Eid, the source said.
Domestic passengers are on wait list at Jeddah airport
