JEDDAH 16 May 2023 – SAUDIA Group, comprising Saudi Airlines, flyadeal, and Saudi Private Aviation, has revealed its operational plan for Hajj season 2023, which will accommodate over 1.2 million pilgrims from around the world. With a fleet of 164 aircraft and an additional 12 aircraft, the group aims to optimize its resources. Pilgrims will be transported from more than 100 scheduled and 14 seasonal destinations to six airports in Saudi Arabia, including Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Medina, Taif, and Yanbu. SAUDIA Group is committed to providing top-notch air transport, logistics, and integrated services using digital platforms and a multilingual team of 8,000 cockpit and cabin crew.
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The comprehensive plan emphasizes synergy among SAUDIA Group subsidiaries, particularly Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries (SAEI), Saudi Ground Services (SGS), and Saudi Airlines Catering Company (SACC). These subsidiaries will operate at full capacity and around the clock during the Hajj season to ensure the best services for pilgrims. SAUDIA Group aligns its operational plan with the directives of the Supreme Hajj Committee and the Central Hajj Committee, in cooperation with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Pilgrim Experience Program. Mr. Amer Alkhushail, Chief Hajj and Umrah Officer at SAUDIA Group, emphasized the organization’s dedication to delivering a smooth travel experience and technical services of the highest quality.
SAUDIA Group has actively collaborated with various government stakeholders, including the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and other companies involved in organizing Hajj trips, to integrate performance and ensure seamless operations. The first flights arriving in the Kingdom are set to land at Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medina on May 21. The company has forged agreements with authorities worldwide to expand its services and enhance its reputation in providing air transport in a spiritually enriched atmosphere. Operational efficiency and safety standards are top priorities for SAUDIA Group, which has mobilized its human and digital capabilities to implement the plan effectively, backed by the direct support of the company’s senior leadership.
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Pilgrims availing themselves of SAUDIA Group’s services will benefit from a range of distinguished offerings. These include the issuance of boarding passes for international departure and domestic terminals, the deployment of navigators and multilingual employees at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) and Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport (Madinah Airport), the dispatch of Zamzam water bottles to various destinations, and additional flights for those wishing to travel to Medina by air. The company has also trained its front-line employees in Hajj protocols, crowd management, crisis response, and emergency plans. Moreover, SAUDIA has enhanced its in-flight Islamic content, featuring religious programs and Quran recitations in multiple languages. The in-flight entertainment system provides educational e-books on performing Hajj and Umrah in over 14 languages.
In a further effort to provide comprehensive services and enrich the pilgrims’ experience, SAUDIA Group has expanded its Hajj season plan activities. It shares awareness messages in pilgrims’ languages through official means in their respective countries, Hajj missions, Hajj organizations in Makkah and Madinah, and across Hajj residences. These messages clarify details related to baggage, weight, size, and procedures for accepting it at airports upon departure after the conclusion of the Hajj, streamlining the pilgrims’ journey beyond expectations. – The Capital Post