Haj flight congestion opposed

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has urged airlines not to operate all their Haj flights during the peak days of the season, and instead schedule them in a balanced manner to avoid congestion.
“Airlines should not wait for the last week of the season to operate their incoming Haj flights,” GACA said in a statement, adding: “They should also avoid operating a large number of outgoing Haj flights in the first week after the pilgrimage.”
Abdul Hameed Abalarry, director general of King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah, said more than 200,000 pilgrims have arrived so far on 850 flights from different parts of the Muslim world.
“We have made all preparations to receive the thousands of pilgrims, by employing adequate number of workers. We intend to provide the guests of God with best possible services,” the director general said.
KAIA will continue to receive Haj flights until the midnight Oct. 9 (Dul Hijjah 4), Abalarry said. The return Haj flights will start at 1 p.m. on Oct. 19 and end on Nov. 18.
Prince Fahd bin Abdullah, president of GACA, has approved punitive measures against airlines that violate Haj flight regulations. Haj flights that arrive at Saudi airports without prior permission would be seized.