By Akram Medhat
The first flights of the air bridge operated by EgyptAir to bring pilgrims back home after performing Hajj will take off on Wednesday, September 6, at 8 a.m. The air bridge is expected to carry more than 70,000 pilgrims on 320 flights from Jeddah and Medina airports by the end of the return phase.
Safwat Moslem, chairman of EgyptAir Holding Company, said the first flight, No. 658, will take off from the Hajj Terminal in Jeddah at 8:10 a.m., bound for the seasonal flights building at Cairo Airport. The first day will end with the arrival of 12 flights, all from Jeddah, carrying 2,990 pilgrims traveling with tourism companies, with the Ministry of Social Solidarity and in transit. The air bridge for returning pilgrims from Medina will begin on Friday, September 8, for those who headed directly to the Prophet's Mosque after performing the Hajj rituals to visit the tomb of the Noble Prophet.
Moslem explained that the return phase will see a heavy schedule of flights in the first days, before the countdown begins toward the close of the season's flights on September 22 and 25 from Jeddah and Medina, respectively.
Special Preparations
He noted that, in coordination with the Ministry of Interior, passport officers will be provided on wide-body flights to facilitate the completion of pilgrims' procedures, and additional work teams of loading officers and staff have been deployed at the seasonal hall to speed up the unloading of aircraft and the completion of baggage delivery procedures.
Moslem stressed that the EgyptAir mission of various specialties that traveled from Cairo to serve pilgrims during the return phase has taken up its work positions at Jeddah and Medina airports, as well as at EgyptAir's offices in the two cities, in preparation for operating the flights in coordination with the Saudi authorities and all parties concerned with the season in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, following several meetings held to ensure the smooth running of the air bridge and to avoid any problems.
Important Instructions for Pilgrims
The EgyptAir Holding chairman urged pilgrims to follow the guidelines that will ease their return journey from the Holy Land. These include adhering to the times specified on their tickets; being present at the Hajj Terminal in Jeddah 8 hours before departure and at Medina airport 6 hours before departure; keeping their tickets in their hand luggage; and not bringing cloth sacks and bundles. Two bags weighing no more than 23 kg each and a hand bag weighing 8 kg are allowed, with any excess charged in cash, in addition to a 5-liter container of Zamzam water approved by the Saudi authorities ("Suqya Zamzam").
