Travel companies urged not to send Umrah pilgrims to airports until the actual flight departure time is confirmed
Ahmed Ibrahim: Most Umrah pilgrims travelled before the events broke out.. and airlines asked not to impose fines for cancelled or postponed flights
In light of current events in the region and possible developments in air traffic, the Chamber of Tourism Companies decided to form a crisis cell within the Religious Tourism Committee to follow the peak Ramadan Umrah season, ensure the regular transport of Umrah pilgrims and intervene immediately in case of any developments that could affect trips.
The crisis cell, headed by Ahmed Ibrahim, a member of the Chamber's board and head of the Religious Tourism Committee, works around the clock every day, in constant contact with the relevant authorities, foremost among them the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, represented by the Companies Sector headed by Samia Samy, Assistant Minister for Companies Affairs and head of the Higher Committee for Hajj and Umrah, as well as the Ministry of Civil Aviation, to follow air traffic developments as they happen.
In this context, the Chamber received notice from the Central Department of Tourism Companies at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities about the possibility of changes to some flight times. Accordingly, the Chamber strictly warned all travel companies organizing Umrah trips not to send Umrah pilgrims to airport departure halls until the actual flight departure time is confirmed, and to notify pilgrims immediately of any change to travel times, for their comfort and to avoid any crowding or unjustified waiting at airports.
The Chamber stressed the need to observe these instructions when booking flight tickets, especially for travel companies working in ticketing, while maintaining continuous contact with the airlines carrying Umrah pilgrims to confirm the stability of schedules before groups move.
The Chamber's Religious Tourism Committee is in contact with travel companies around the clock to check on Umrah pilgrims and the regularity of trips, with periodic follow-up of developments.
For his part, Ahmed Ibrahim, head of the Religious Tourism Committee, stressed that so far there have been no significant complaints regarding the season and no trips have been cancelled, with air traffic between Egyptian and Saudi airports running regularly, noting that the current period is the main peak of the Ramadan Umrah season, and follow-ups have shown that most booked Umrah pilgrims travelled before these events broke out, reducing the likelihood of travel disruption. He added that airlines have been contacted and urged not to impose any fines in the event of cancelled or postponed flights.
Ibrahim explained that the Chamber has opened direct lines of communication with the travel companies organizing trips to set alternative plans for immediate intervention in case of any emergency, with the crisis cell continuing to meet until the end of the season and the safe return of all Umrah pilgrims, stressing the Chamber's confidence in the cooperation of all relevant authorities for the comfort and safety of the Guests of Allah.
