The first flight of foreign pilgrims has taken off from Jeddah. The Qatar Airways flight left King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) Tuesday. This was the first of 1,500 specially scheduled flights that will depart round the clock until Muharram 15. The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and KAIA are working together to ensure the safe and efficient departure of pilgrims. Under new streamlined boarding procedures, passengers will be taken from Al-Shumaisi Area to Gate 14 where they will have their reservations confirmed. Once all procedures are completed, they will be taken to Gate 17. Authorities insist there will be no repeat of what happened in September, when thousands of Umrah performers were left stranded at the airport. “There are special arrangements with the Ministry of Haj and security authorities in place to avoid this,” said Assistant Director General of Saudi Arabian Airlines for Public Relations Abdullah Al-Ajhar. “We have created sorting zones that prevent pilgrims from entering the airport until six hours before the departure of their flight, he said. A Bahraini pilgrim, flying from Jeddah to Bahrain via Dammam, was very impressed with the arrangements in place at the airport. He said he was deeply thankful to Saudi authorities for the services provided in the holy sites. Other pilgrims said the integrated services provided by the state made it easy to carry out their rituals. They expressed their sincere thanks for the warm welcome and hospitality in the Kingdom. KAIA and Jeddah Islamic Port visitors have reported a smooth flow of departing pilgrims, without crowding, complaints or flight delays. __
