DUBAI/ABU DHABI: Etihad Airways and Emirates Airlines will operate 71 additional flights to Saudi Arabia during the holy month of Ramadan, it was announced yesterday.
Emirates will operate 47 extra flights from Dubai to Jeddah to facilitate those traveling to the Kingdom for Umrah. Etihad will operate an additional 24 flights during the month between Abu Dhabi and Jeddah, and add special flights to Madinah.
Etihad’s extra services, which started yesterday, will continue until Oct. 2 and build on the 28 return flights Etihad operates every week to its Saudi destinations of Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.
“The additional flights from Abu Dhabi to Jeddah will cater to the demands of Umrah travelers during Ramadan and will enhance significantly the long-haul travel options for Muslim communities throughout our network with a short transfer time in Abu Dhabi on many routes,” said James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive.
Emirates’ additional services, which also started yesterday, will continue until Oct. 15 and are available to travelers with valid Umrah visas.
The extra flights will depart Dubai at 9 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. local time, providing Umrah passengers with more flexibility and ensuring convenient connections for pilgrims arriving from the Emirates’ global network, especially from the Indian Sub-continent and Asia.
“Emirates is glad to be able to facilitate travel arrangements for scores of pilgrims during their special journey, through services in the air and on the ground. Emirates would like to thank the government and authorities in Saudi Arabia for granting it the permission to introduce extra frequencies for Umrah pilgrims," said Adnan Kazim, Emirates' senior vice president of commercial operations for the Gulf, Middle East and Iran.
UAE-based travelers can call (04) 214 4444 or e-mail [email protected] to receive information on flights, bookings, special services, or changes to their travel itineraries. Emirates passengers calling from Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah can call the airline's toll-free hot line number 800-8-971-487 round the clock.
