GACA complete its preparations for the pilgrims’ farewell phase

August 13, 2019

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has completed its preparations to receive the departing pilgrims in their way to their home countries after completing this year pilgrimage through King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medinah.

GACA was keen on providing the highest quality of services to the pilgrims throughout the Kingdom’s airports.  The integrated system of services aimed at facilitating the pilgrims’ departure procedures in their way home with ease and safety, in coordination with government and private authorities.

The Hajj and Umrah Terminal Complex at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, which consist of (14) travel lounges will be back to work until the departure of the last pilgrim on the 15^th of Muharam.  It is expected that the number of departing pilgrims through the complex will exceed (950) thousand pilgrim, with approximately (300) thousand leaving during the first week of the departure phase.  Moreover, to ensure the smooth flow of pilgrims, all the lounges routes have been converted to departure mode only.  GACA and in cooperation with other government and private authorities operating at the airport is to provide the pilgrims with all the needed services.

GACA has readied the Hajj and Umrah Terminal Complex at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah with (114) check-in counters, (208) passport control counters, (18) travel gates, (10) conveyor belts at a length of 1180 meters, bus parking area that can accommodate (100) bus, along with aircraft parking bays that can accommodate (26) aircraft at once.  This in addition to services that facilitate the pilgrims’ journey through the airport.

At Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport (PMIA) in Medinah, GACA has set up three lounges to receive the departing pilgrims.  It is expected that more than 3000 flight will depart starting on the 15^th of Dul Al-Hijjah and until the 15^th of Muharam.  In order to ensure the smooth flow of the departing pilgrims, at PMIA in Medinah, the Hajj terminal was readied in addition to the international terminal that will be used in the departure phase.  Furthermore, (104) check-in counters was set up, (60) passport control counters, (24) travel gates connected directly to the aircraft bridges.  This in addition to (9) gateways to ferry passengers between aircrafts and lounges.  An outside area was prepared to receive the pilgrims’ luggage in advance and before the departure time.  An rest area was set up at the Hajj Plaza that covers an area of (10,000) square meters, equipped with all the amenities,  a bus parking area was also set up to accommodate (250) bus.

It is worth noting, that GACA is working on the implementation of the annual plan for the pilgrims’ departure.  More than 25 government and private entities is working at Hajj and Umrah Terminal Complex at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah where more than seven thousand male and female employee are working.  Moreover, at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, more than five thousand male and female employees are also working there.  These ongoing preparations for the pilgrims’ departure at the current Hajj season (1440) comes as an implementation of the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and HRH the Crown Prince to provide the best services to the pilgrims and facilitate their travel procedures, to return to their home countries with safety, ease and comfort.