JEDDAH, 25 November 2004 — The Haj season is upon us, and the first contingent of would-be Hajis arrives Sunday from South Africa.

Muhammad Zeyne Haffejee, head of that country’s 40-member Haj delegation — also the season’s first — told Arab News at the South African Consulate General here yesterday that a total of 7,000 pilgrims will arrive on scheduled and chartered flights of several airlines. “The number of Hajis this year is 500 more than last year,” he said.

He said that three flights — two in Jeddah, and one in Madinah, arrive Sunday, of which Yemenia, carrying 190 Hajis via Sanaa, would be the first to land at about 3:30 a.m., followed by Egypt Air via Cairo, carrying 50 pilgrims, at 8 a.m. Both arrive at King Abdul Aziz International Airport. The third, which is a direct flight by Saudia, carrying 400 pilgrims, lands in Madinah at 11 p.m. “Hajis will also come on Emirates’ scheduled flights via Dubai,” added Muhammad Ameen Hartley, deputy head of the mission.

There are four main embarkation points — Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth. Yemenia will operate 10 chartered flights — six from Johannesburg and four from Durban. The flights operated by Egypt Air and Saudia are scheduled ones on Saturdays and Mondays. Saudia will operate six direct flights to Madinah, each carrying 400 pilgrims.

The return flights begin Jan. 24, 2005, with the last one on Feb. 19, when the delegation also departs. Those arriving in Madinah on Saudia flights will return home on South African Airways from Jeddah. Of the 40 members, 22 arrived on Monday with Haffejee and Hartley. They have already performed Umrah and will visit Madinah soon. The mission includes a medical team of six doctors and six nurses.

“Our main priority is to serve the pilgrims from South Africa,” said Haffejee, who performed Haj in 2002. “I see a lot of construction work going on. The government is trying to make it easy for the pilgrims with better facilities and management. I am very happy,” he added.

Hartley performed his first Haj in 1999. He came again the next year. Last year, he was a member of the Haj mission.

“I have noticed constant improvements for the safety and comfort of the pilgrims, and I have had positive experience with the concerned government agencies and departments,” he added.