JEDDAH: Airline companies operating in the Kingdom yesterday vowed to make the passage of pilgrims safe and comfortable by maintaining maximum punctuality.
The pledge was made at the annual meeting of BARSA (the Board of Airline Representatives in Saudi Arabia) held here to discuss preparations for the upcoming pilgrimage.
“We work as one team to overcome obstacles. We have geared ourselves up to deal with unexpected situations that might come up during the Haj season as well as responding to the demands of the pilgrimage,” said Khaled Al-Mulhim, director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines, who presided over the meeting at Le Meridien hotel.
Representatives from several government departments, including the Ministry of Haj, attended the meeting.
The Haj Ministry representative stressed the need for a total revision of services provided by the airlines. He added that ground-handling companies should improve efficiency by increasing staff. He also stressed the importance of having an automated link between the ministry, the General Authority of Civil Aviation and Saudi Arabian Airlines to exchange flight details.
The ministry official said airline companies should provide necessary facilities, such as accommodation, to pilgrims whose flights are delayed for various reasons. He urged airline companies to keep their offices at the Haj Terminal open until the Haj season comes to a complete close.
Over 230 pilgrim flights are scheduled to arrive daily at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport. The Haj Terminal has a capacity to handle more than 3,700 pilgrims an hour.
The Ministry of Haj, the Unified Agents Office and the Cars Syndicate together have deployed more than 5,000 temporary workers at KAIA and the Haj Terminal.
About three million Muslims from around the world are expected to perform this year’s Haj that will tentatively begin on Dec. 6.
