Penalties could reach up to SR150,000 for late arrivals JEDDAH – The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has warned that it would fine airline companies for any Haj flight delays this year. The fines could be up to SR150,000 for late flights, GACA said in a statement. Fines will be doubled if the delay is more than 24 hours. Airlines which allow flights to depart without obtaining a license will be fined more than SR30,000. GACA also stressed that it would fine companies SR50,000 if they are not committed to, or provide late Haj Instructions Data. It said that it will start imposing the fines next week at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz Airport in Madina. Haj flights started arriving on Sept. 29 and will continue until the end of October. The departure flights are supposed to start from Nov. 10 and end on Dec. 10. According to GACA regulations, flights are not allowed to stay at the terminals of the two airports more than two hours after arrival (before Haj) and more than three hours before departure. Meanwhile, the Passports Department has deployed more officers around Makkah to counter the movement of illegals and overstayers. The Makkah entry points will also have female crews trained to search females during this Haj season, according to Brigadier Ayed Bin Taghalib Al-Harbi, the Passports Department's Commander of Haj Forces. The department has implemented its Haj procedures at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, Prince Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz International Airport in Madina and Jeddah Islamic Port. Trained staff, modern anti-forgery devices and advanced computers are all ready to guarantee an easy and convenient completion of pilgrims' entry procedures, he added. All those who arrive will be fingerprinted, in a procedure aimed at overstayers, he said.
