Jeddah airport ‘to face overcapacity problem’

JEDDAH: King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah will experience an overcapacity of 22.5 million passengers by the end of the year, an airport official has estimated.
Turki Al-Zeeb, the manager of public relations and media at the airport, said an operational intensity of 31 million passengers is forecasted until the end of the current year at the 8.5 million passenger capacity port.
“The number of passengers expected this year will be the highest registered at King Abdul Aziz Airport since it was opened, exceeding last year’s 30 million passengers,” Al-Zeeb said.
He added that the airport recently witnessed an unprecedented operational intensity as 130,000 passenger arrivals and departures were registered, and a total of 700 flights were conducted in 24 hours.
“The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has demanded that all airlines adhere to flight schedules to avoid delays or crowd problems to departing pilgrims. It has also warned that the violating companied will be punished,” Al-Zeeb pointed out.
Meanwhile, King Abdul Aziz Airport’s administration has designated the Haj and Umrah hall complex for passengers of 37 internal flights in order to ease overcrowding pressure on the southern hall.
A total of 750,000 passengers are expected to leave from the Haj and Umrah hall complex on board 4,000 flights until Muharram 15, the deadline for Haj departures.