Saleh Al-Jaser, director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines, chairs a meeting of the airlines' executive directors and heads of various sectors at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah on Tuesday. — Courtesy photo Saudi Gazette report
JEDDAH — Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) will operate 2,145 domestic, international and Haj flights during the period Sept. 27-30, director general of the airlines Saleh Al-Jaser has said. Presiding over a meeting on Tuesday at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) that grouped the airlines' executive directors, heads of various sectors and other concerned officials, Al-Jasser said Saudia will operate 667 flights on Sunday (Sept. 27) which is the largest number of flights to be operated in a single day. He said on this day, there will be domestic and international Haj fights from all stations inside and outside the country. Jasser said on the next day, Monday (Sept. 28), there will be 609 flights and added that the airlines will continue as usual its scheduled and additional domestic, international and Haj flights until Sept. 30 "There will be 2,145 flights in a time span of four days consisting of 1,323 domestic, 706 international and 116 Haj flights both locally and externally," he said. Saudia, has meanwhile, agreed with the government departments working at the KAIA to double their efforts in preparations for transporting of pilgrims to their respective home countries post-Haj. Khaled Bin Hammad Al-Balawi, assistant director general for commercial affairs, on Wednesday chaired a coordination meeting which was attended by heads of the operational sectors, CEOs of companies entrusted to implement the operational plans of the Haj flights, representatives of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and other concerned officials. The meeting discussed ways and means of avoiding any mishaps that may delay flights or cause overcrowding at the airports. Balawi said the attendants agreed to make concerted efforts to avoid any shortcomings in the services being provided to the pilgrims until they fly back safely to their homes. Balawi said Saudia has reinforced its operational staff with additional cadres and is working 24/7 to accurately execute all its scheduled, additional and Haj flights.
