Saudi Gazette report
JEDDAH – As many as 7.3 million Umrah pilgrims arrived and departed via the Haj and Umrah terminals of King Abdulaziz International Airport since the start of the current Umrah season, the Saudi Press Agency reported quoting statistics released by the airport authority.
According to Abdullah Bin Masaad Al-Reemi, director general of KAIA, the airport administration has made early preparations to cope with the increasing number of Umrah pilgrims in the holy month of Ramadan.
He said the traffic is expected to significantly increase in the coming days with an influx of Umrah pilgrims from all over the world.
The airport administration implemented a Ramadan plan, which involved equipping passenger lounges, carrying out maintenance work and checking the proper functioning of baggage conveyors, check-in and immigration desks, and customs and security gates, said Al-Reemi.
The airport administration also ensures the airlines transporting pilgrims stick to flight schedules to guarantee the streamlining of passenger movement in the terminals, he said.
The plan took into consideration the security, safety and comfort of the pilgrims, he said. "All measures have been taken to raise the level of coordination among the departments and agencies working at the airport," Al-Reemi said.
"The main goal of the plan is to cut down the time taken to complete the arrival and departure procedures for Umrah pilgrims and enhance their comfort and peace of mind, apart from ensuring safety at the airport," he said.
Al-Reemi added that the private and government agencies at the airport were working round the clock according to an operation plan.
A Ramadan Tent has also been readied to provide about 3,000 free meals daily to Umrah pilgrims, he said.
Al-Reemi said the plan was being implemented under the supervision of Makkah Emir Prince Khaled Al-Faisal and continuous follow-up by Transport Minister Sulaiman Al-Hamdan.
