JEDDAH: The King Abdul Aziz International Airport’s (KAIA) Hajj terminal in Jeddah is set to accommodate 310,000 pilgrims during this year’s Hajj season.
Figures released by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) revealed a 41 percent increase in the number of pilgrims over last year, with 1,535 flights scheduled to arrive at the airport’s Hajj terminal.
The terminal is equipped with high-tech facilities for receiving pilgrims as well as for completing immigration and screening procedures.
Hajj Terminal Passport Zone 4 was recently equipped with high-tech reception counters, and lounge No. 11 is designed for the pilgrims who have completed their immigration procedures at their embarkation points in Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta.
The aviation authority has promised to simplify all travel procedures for pilgrims and visitors.
GACA statistics released on July 30 show 651 flights have already arrived at KAIA, which is an increase of 7.3 percent compared to the last year.
The first Hajj flight arrived from the Indonesian capital Jakarta carrying 406 pilgrims.
The first flight from India transported 200 pilgrims and the first batch of 482 pilgrims came from Malaysia.
Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Muhammad Saleh Benten, Minister of Transport Nabeel Al-Amoudi, who is also the chairman of the board of GACA, and GACA President Abdul Hakeem Al-Tamimi conducted inspection tours to ensure all facilities for pilgrims at the Haj terminal were ready to receive passengers. They also inspected the new Jeddah airport.
Their inspection tours are in line with the directives of King Salman to extend the best possible services and facilities to the pilgrims, Saudi Press Agency reported.
