JEDDAH: For the eighth consecutive day a large number of pilgrims were still stranded at King Abdul Aziz International Airport's Northern Terminals – foreign airlines terminals – because of the alleged failure of various airlines to operate their flights in accordance with the schedule approved by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). Sources said that the Ministry of Haj has started coordinating with GACA to force the airlines to stick to departure times, and blacklist and impose penalties on those who do not stick to their commitments. The sources said the ministry and GACA will soon rent airplanes to take the pilgrims home. Flights allocated for these pilgrims will start in two days, the sources said. They added that Algerian Airlines may face penalties for its failure to operate flights for their pilgrims. Other sources said a number of Algerian pilgrims who are in violation of residency regulations – because they arrived during Ramadan for Umrah and overstayed for Haj – showed up at the airport with no consulate or delegation acting on their behalf to enable them to travel. A number of Algerian pilgrims have blamed their country's airlines and consulate for not having their exit procedures completed in time. Some said they were not able to buy food because of the airport's high prices, while some had health problems and were moved to the airport's healthcare center. The airport's security blamed the Ministry of Haj officials, embassies of pilgrims' countries, the GACA and Haj agents for the large number of pilgrims at the airport. “They are stranded for days without the simplest, basic services provided,” one security official said. This is the second year in a row that Algerian pilgrims have had this problem.
