Hundreds of outbound Saudia passengers were left stranded at King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) for several hours on Thursday because of a faulty conveyor belt.
Several passengers, who called Arab News from KKIA, claimed one of the belts at the departure terminal had broken down, causing flight delays and discomfort.
The malfunction, which affected only Saudia international flights, created a chaotic scene at the check-in counters.
More than 1,000 pieces of luggage were seen piled up all across the departure lounge and the airport lobby throughout Thursday morning.
Luggage handling was badly affected because of the problem with the conveyor belt.
“But what angered the passengers more was the attitude of ground staff; the passengers were not informed about the status of the flights,” Kamran Khan told Arab News via phone from the airport.
At least six Saudia flights out of about 27 flights operated by Saudi Arabian Airlines on Thursdays between 9 a.m. to 12 noon were badly affected and delayed anywhere between one and five hours.
They were SV117, bound for London, SV263, bound for Istanbul, SV558, bound for Dubai, SV329, bound for Alexandria, and SV760, bound for Delhi.
The duty manager at KKIA refused to share information when asked about the cause of delays and what had really happened.
Arab News contacted Abdullah Al-Azhar, a Saudia spokesman, who promised to call back, but did not return the call.
Mojib Siddiqui, a Delhi-bound passenger, said he was on board the flight SV760 for about five hours before it flew for Delhi.
“I will miss my connecting train and will now be forced to spend the whole night in Delhi,” said Siddiqui.
“The Saudi flight bound for London SV117 also took off two hours late,” said another passenger traveling to London.
SV760, scheduled to fly out at 10 a.m., left for New Delhi at 2:44 p.m. on Thursday, while SV726, bound for Islamabad, was delayed for more than two hours. Airport officials acknowledged the problem, but said it was “minor.” “The delivery of luggage from security checkpoints to airplanes was halted for some time,” he said.
Authorities have yet to determine the exact number of flights delayed.
Belt glitch strands hundreds at Riyadh airport
Belt glitch strands hundreds at Riyadh airport
Citrus festival highlights AlUla’s heritage, economy
- The rise in visitor numbers reflects the festival’s prominence as a major agricultural and community event. It runs until Jan. 16
ALULA: The AlUla Citrus Festival has seen a remarkable turnout of residents and visitors as it has coincided with the mid-year school break, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The festival is being held at the farmers’ market in the cultural oasis, amid an environment that blends stunning natural beauty with the governorate's rich agricultural heritage.
The rise in visitor numbers reflects the festival’s prominence as a major agricultural and community event. It runs until Jan. 16.
It allows visitors to explore local products and purchase citrus fruits directly from farmers, highlighting the deep connection between the people, their land, and agricultural legacy.
The festival showcases a diverse selection of AlUla’s finest citrus fruits, alongside platforms for local producers, the SPA added.
The event also features interactive family-friendly activities and live cooking demonstrations.
It contributes to revitalizing agricultural economic activity and reinforces agricultural seasons as a pillar of sustainable development in the governorate.
The AlUla Citrus Festival is a key social and economic event and gives local farmers a vital platform to showcase and sell their produce, supporting the agricultural economy of a governorate home to nearly 5,000 productive farms.
