Ahmed Al-Sulami Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — More than 430,000 pilgrims have departed for their respective homes on board 1,300 international flights until Sunday evening, according to Abdul Hameed Aba Al-Ari, director of King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah. Ari denied any delays in the international Haj flights and said everything was going smoothly at the airport. He said domestic flights have been increased to transport the local pilgrims, students, teachers, employees and families to their various destinations after spending the Eid Al-Adha holidays in Jeddah. Meanwhile, informed sources held Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) for the overcrowding at the airport because of its refusal to transport all pilgrims from the Haj Terminal in the northern lounge. They said Saudia insisted on transporting domestic pilgrims through the southern lounge (domestic airport). The sources said this has created confusion and caused overcrowding at the airport.
