http://www.english.hadhramaut.info Best Haj services urged [The Source: www.arabnews.com - 10/11/2009] Prince Khaled Al-Faisal on Monday urged government officials and private agencies involved in this year’s Haj operation to work as one team in order to provide the best possible services to the guests of God.
Speaking to reporters after an inspection tour of the Haj Terminal at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport, Prince Khaled said Saudi Arabia considered its services to pilgrims a great honor.Prince Khaled, who was accompanied by Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Majed, inspected expansion projects at the terminal to accommodate the increasing number of pilgrims who come for Haj and Umrah.During his tour, Prince Khaled received a group of pilgrims who had arrived at the airport. He gave them commemorative gifts and wished them a rewarding Haj. More than 2.5 million Muslims from across the world are expected to perform Haj this year.The governor’s inspection tour covered the offices and facilities of the Health Ministry, Haj Ministry, Passport Department, Customs and United Agencies. He urged government officials to receive pilgrims nicely and provide them with excellent services.Prince Khaled highlighted the gigantic projects being carried out by the government to ensure the welfare and security of pilgrims. He also referred to the efforts Haj agencies, including Tawafa organizations, were making to improve their services.In a related development, Saudi Arabian Airlines said its Haj plan was aimed at providing excellent services to the guests of God and transport even more pilgrims from all over the world. The national carrier has set up a special working team to supervise its Haj operation.Director General of Saudia Khaled Al-Molhem said the airline would operate additional flights to different regions of the Kingdom for domestic pilgrims. Saudia will bring pilgrims from 81 international hubs including 23 in Europe and Africa and 22 each in Asia and Middle East.“We expect to carry nearly one million pilgrims by operating more than 2,000 flights,” Al-Molhem said, adding that 308,000 international pilgrims would be flown directly to Madinah. Saudia will carry the largest number of 457,000 pilgrims from Asia. “Saudi Arabian Airlines offers a bouquet of services to the guests of God including advance issuance of boarding passes for return flights,” the director general said. “We also appoint crew members who speak the different languages of pilgrims and supply a variety of dishes that suit their tastes.” The airline shows in-flight Haj documentaries to educate pilgrims.Al-Molhem urged all Saudia officials to be present in the field in order to ensure that the guests of God were “well received, well treated and well served.”