Madinah airport ready to cope with Ramadan pilgrim rush

The Prince Muhammad International Airport (PMIA) in Madinah is ready to receive the huge number of pilgrims expected to arrive during the month of Ramadan.
Director General of PMIA Abdul Fattah Ata said special attention has been paid to ensure speedy disposal of the formalities related to pilgrims’ arrival and departure from the airport.
“All the potentials in the airport including its manpower and machinery will work to ensure pilgrims receive prompt services,” Ata said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency yesterday.
The month of Ramadan, which is considered to be the peak of the Umrah season, is likely to start on July 9, according to the Umm Al-Qura calendar.
Preparations for Ramadan include refurnishing the airport lounges as well as repairing and maintaining the equipment including the baggage conveyor belts. The counters for customs, immigration, and airlines companies are working day and night, he said.
The security and comfort of pilgrims and visitors are the underlying reasons behind the preparations at the airport, he added.
“Steps have also been taken to ensure a high level of coordination between all departments working in the airport to ensure the security and comfort of incoming and outgoing pilgrims,” he said.
All the eight departments involved in the airport’s operations and pilgrims affairs, in addition to a number of private agencies are working around the clock.
He added that planning and preparations for Ramadan season commenced sufficiently in advance with due consideration for the work force of airline companies, security officials and also in coordination with the Ministry of Haj for the supply of buses for pilgrims’ transport. Care has also been taken with airline companies that charter pilgrim flights so that their schedules are spaced to avoid crowding in the airport. Steps have also been taken to man all service points to guarantee that passengers complete their travel formalities without delay.
He added that a number of expansion projects have been undertaken at the airport in the past, making it one of the major airports in the Kingdom.
According to airport statistics, 869,714 pilgrims arrived and 399,449 departed in aircraft of 17 airline companies since the beginning of the Umrah season until last week.