Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Prince Abdullah Bin Bandar, deputy emir of Makkah region, Sunday evening instructed authorities to install fans at King Abdulaziz International Airport's Haj terminal for the benefit of pilgrims using the facility.

This came during the official's tour of the Haj and Umrah Terminal at Jeddah airport to supervise the operation plan for the Haj season. The deputy emir toured different government departments at the airport including the Ministry of Health, Passports Department, Customs and the Haj authority.

Prince Abdullah moved around the open area in the terminal and asked: “Why don’t we put big fans here... It's now four or five in the evening. What about those coming around 12 noon or 11 a.m? It will be very difficult especially that it is summer now.”

The prince highlighted the role Saudi public and private establishments play to organize Haj season and their care for pilgrims from the moment they arrive in the Kingdom until their departure.

The prince was welcomed by Sulaiman Al-Hamdan, minister of transport and president of General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), and several other senior airport officials.

Until Sunday, 245 flights have arrived at the terminal carrying 43,000 pilgrims, an increase of 8 percent compared to last year, an airport official said.

The Haj and Umrah terminal is spread over 510,000 sq. meters. The building is stretched over an area of 90,000 sq. meters while the open area is 160,000 sq. meters. The Haj terminal has 26 plane parking areas, 10 jet bridges, two air traffic control towers, 18 gates, 14 travel areas, 143 Passports Department counters, 120 Haj counters and 254 travel counters. The terminal also has two halls for first class passengers and one for VIPs. In addition, there is a 123-room hotel. The terminal is also provided with the needed food and commercial services along with 40 areas marked for prayers and has 32 bathrooms.

The terminal can accommodate 3,800 incoming and 3,500 outgoing passengers. It also has a waiting area that can accommodate 7,000 passengers. The new halls in the airport can accommodate 91,000 incoming and 84,000 outgoing passengers. The terminal has the capacity to facilitate the landing of 312 planes a day — approximately 13 planes per hour.