RIYADH: Saudia has unveiled its operational plan for this year’s Hajj season, allocating more than 1.2 million airline seats for pilgrims visiting the Kingdom.

The Kingdom’s national carrier boasts more than 150 aircraft in its fleet, and has pledged to deliver “top-notch services” to pilgrims during Hajj, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The airline’s operational period for the Hajj season spans 74 days, beginning May 9. It includes both arrivals and returns.

Saudia has organized specialized teams to oversee performance monitoring, lounge operations, coordination with other sectors as well as an emergency plan in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

Virtual simulations have been conducted at Jeddah and Madinah international airports to prepare for Hajj.

Saudia is welcoming pilgrims from the Grand Mosque through five domestic airports: Jeddah, Madinah, Riyadh, Dammam and Yanbu, the SPA reported.

More than 11,000 frontline employees and aircraft maintenance technicians will work throughout the season. The Makkah Route initiative will cater to 120,000 pilgrims, while the “Hajj with No Bags” service will also run.

The airline plans to handle 270,000 bags and 240,000 Zamzam water bottles during Hajj.

Amer Alkhushail, CEO of Saudia Hajj and Umrah, said that the national carrier is “honored” to play a vital role in serving pilgrims, aligning with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

Saudia has gained “invaluable experience” from previous Hajj seasons, contributing to the development and implementation of strategic initiatives, he added.

“As part of our preparations for the upcoming Hajj season, the Saudia Group is committed to forging agreements with government delegations and travel agents. We are dedicated to ensuring adequate seat capacity and extending our services to meet demand in over 100 destinations across four continents,” Alkhushail said.

“Moreover, we are facilitating reservation and ticket issuance through electronic channels and Saudia Group offices. Additionally, we are conducting awareness campaigns to educate pilgrims about luggage requirements, including dimensions, weights and prohibited materials for air transport.

“Furthermore, we are poised to support the implementation of flights through the Makkah Route Initiative.”

Through its workforce, Saudia can provide communication to pilgrims from around the world in 30 languages, he added.

Onboard meals are tailored to accommodate diverse preferences, Alkhushail said, highlighting Saudia’s in-flight entertainment, which offers pilgrims educational and guidance materials developed in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

Saudia also offers luggage collection services from pilgrims’ residences, easing travel after the completion of Hajj rituals, he added.

SEOUL: The Korean Embassy in Riyadh recently hosted reporters from Saudi Arabia and across the globe at the week-long World Journalists Conference here to enhance the Asia nation’s relations with other countries.

“As a Saudi journalist, your experience and exchanges of views in Korea, along with your insights, will provide a great introduction about Korea to Saudi Arabia,” Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Choi Byung Hyuk told Arab News.

“Cooperation is expanding beyond traditional construction and energy sectors to include areas like plants, hydrogen supply chains, defense, and culture — leveraging Korea’s economic development expertise, experience, and the capabilities and technologies of its excellent companies,” he added.

The WJC invited over 65 international journalists including an Arab News reporter to the week-long conference organized by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Korea Press Foundation.

The participants discussed various issues including the role of media in war reporting, efforts to achieve world peace, and Korea’s foreign policy.

The conference included sessions on the impact of Web3 on digital media and journalism and Seoul’s Tourism Renewal plan.

The organizers, during the trip, highlighted Korea’s culture, landscapes, history, diplomatic relations, and emerging scientific advancements.

“Korea has developed economically and is also well-known culturally to Saudi youth through K-pop, K-movies, and dramas,” the Korean ambassador explained.

Hyuk said the natural environment of Korea makes it a great place to visit and explore. “Korean people, like Saudis, are known for their warmth and hospitality, which will be quickly evident through long-term interactions.”

He added that there was a growing Muslim community in Korea.

Hyuk said the visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Korea in November 2022 and President Yoon Suk-Yeol’s trip to Saudi Arabia in October 2023 has led to “rapid progress in bilateral relations.”

In his remarks at the opening of the 12th WJC conference, Jong Hyun Park, president of the Journalists Association of Korea, said: “Since 2013, in the spirit of the global era, foreign journalists, who are engaged in similar deliberations and tasks within our global village, have been gathering at the WJC. This assembly aims to tackle common global challenges and engage in meaningful discussions about the future of journalism.”

“Our unity is rooted in a shared commitment to journalism, transcending differences in nationality, gender, skin, color, and ideology. We hope you will seize the opportunity to explore South Korea’s rich traditional culture and unique characteristics of each region, including visits to Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, Incheon, Suwon, Ansan, and the demilitarized zone,” Park added.

The speakers at the event included Joo Hee Lee, the managing editor of the Korea Herald, Anum Hanif, the producer of the Hum News Network in Pakistan, Nicola Smith, Asia correspondent for The Telegraph in the UK, Leonardo Casa, the deputy director of BioBio Chile, and Ki Yon Kil, the president and CEO of the Seoul Tourism Organization.

The tour included Incheon, Seoul, Suwon, Yongin and Ansan, where journalists were able to meet local people and see how technology was shaping communities.

There was also a visit to the demilitarized zone and the Dora observatory. Through binoculars, visitors were able to view the mountains and farmlands on the North Korea side, and the city of Gaeseong.