KARACHI: the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has successfully concluded the first phase of operations for its Hajj season 1445H, marked by the completion of arrival flights. In total 509,000 pilgrims attended Hajj this year with over 160,000 from Pakistan. The last flight (SV5827, arrived in Jeddah from Riyadh, carrying 445 Hajj pilgrims.
During the arrival phase, which lasted 32 days, seamless cooperation between various government entities ensured a smooth experience for Hajj pilgrims. This integrated performance aligns with the directives of Saudi Arabia’s wise leadership to provide the highest quality services to pilgrims.
In total, Saudia transported 509,000 Hajj pilgrims on 3,400 flights from over 150 destinations worldwide during the arrival phase. The operation achieved an On-Time Performance rate of 88%. Pilgrims benefited from a range of enhanced services, including digital services and inflight entertainment programs with educational content on Hajj regulations and rituals in multiple languages.
Amer Alkhushail, Chief Executive Officer of Saudia Hajj and Umrah, said: “The operations during the arrival phase were excellent. The success of the process was due to a strategic plan that considered travel demand and fleet capacity, enabling smooth operational execution and high-quality service delivery. I would like to take the opportunity and extend my appreciation to the entire team in Saudia for their significant contributions in enhancing guest experience through providing high level air and on ground services.”
Following the arrival of the last flight, Saudia has promptly commenced preparations for the departure phase. Numerous meetings are being held to discuss optimal strategies for implementing the second phase, aiming to streamline airport movements and ensure On-Time Performance throughout the phases.
