Pilgrims pray at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. (Reuters)

Pilgrims to leave by Muharram 15

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH – King Abdul Aziz International Airport (KAIA) is preparing to receive a high volume of Umrah season flights for the Hijri month of Rabi’ Al-Awwal, 1433H (Jan. 24, 2012), an official at the Haj Terminal said.
The last batch of Haj pilgrims will leave on Muharram 15 (Dec. 11).
“This season is expected to witness a larger number of Umrah pilgrims. The last Haj pilgrims’ flights will depart from the airport to Pakistan on Muharram 15.”
The General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) said: “The number of Umrah pilgrims who departed the Kingdom via the Haj Terminal at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz Airport in Madina has already reached 1.4 million.”
Of these, 1.16 million pilgrims departed from the Haj Terminal in Jeddah on board 4,545 flights. About 143,000 out of 150,000 Indonesian pilgrims have returned home; 110,000 out of 135,000 Pakistani pilgrims have returned; 64,000 out of 85,000 Turkish pilgrims have returned; and 90,000 out of 94,000 Indian pilgrims have returned home, GACA said.

Source: Saudi Gazette