Saudi Arabia braces for Eid Al-Fitr rush with anticipated surge in airline passengers
RIYADH: Buoyed by the hundreds of thousands of Umrah performers and worshippers all through the holy month of Ramadan, Saudi Arabia braces for a surge in journey for Eid Al-Fitr.
The spike is anticipated to end in a major rise within the variety of arriving and departing passengers from key Umrah airports.
Air journey between the UAE and Saudi Arabia alone has witnessed a noticeable surge, pushed by growing demand from people wishing to carry out Umrah rituals in the course of the holy month of Ramadan. The demand typically reaches its peak over the last 10 days of the holy month.
In keeping with the UAE’s Common Civil Aviation Authority statistics, flights between the UAE and Saudi Arabia elevated by 13.3 % in March, rising to round 383 weekly flights in comparison with roughly 338 in February, coinciding with the start of Ramadan.
Saudi aviation administration agency Matarat Holding predicts that general vacationers will attain 6.6 million this yr, reflecting a 25 % development in comparison with the earlier yr.
Khaled Al-Hamash, government vp of technique at Matarat, informed Arab Information: “These touring on Umrah constitution flights are 500,000 passengers and the remainder are scheduled. These touring from and to worldwide locations are 4.7 million passengers and the remainder are home.”
This comes because the Kingdom witnessed a major inflow of vacationers final yr. In keeping with knowledge launched by Saudi Arabia’s Common Authority of Civil Aviation in Could 2023, the variety of passengers to and from its airports throughout Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr exceeded 11.5 million folks from the start of the holy month till the ninth of Shawwal.
The success of final yr’s internet hosting units a precedent for this yr’s Eid Al-Fitr celebrations, indicating the Kingdom’s readiness to facilitate journey and accommodate pilgrims throughout this festive interval.
The impression on touring throughout Eid Al-Fitr this yr is anticipated to be vital, suggesting that journey demand in the course of the season will likely be a lot greater based mostly on earlier figures.
“Eid holidays have historically been peak journey season for home and worldwide vacationers from Saudi,” Muzammil Ahussain, CEO of Almosafer, informed Arab Information.
He added: “This yr too we’ve got witnessed an preliminary upsurge in bookings for the Eid journey season. With many preferring to finalize their journey plans nearer to the vacations, we’re anticipating even higher demand for flights and resort stays.”
Ahussain defined that many residents desire shorter flights and are choosing staycation journeys. This selection permits them to spend high quality time with household whereas exploring common vacationer locations inside the nation.
“Journeys to AlUla and Al Ahsa are significantly engaging to home vacationers, with prime locations like Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah drawing vacationers,” he stated.
For worldwide journeys, the CEO famous that locations together with Dubai, Cairo, and European capitals like Paris and London proceed to be “all-time favorites” amongst vacationers from Saudi Arabia.
“This yr, we’re additionally witnessing a higher demand for journey to Turkiye and Thailand, in addition to far-Jap locations like Korea and Japan,” he added.
Capability addition
Given the excessive demand in the course of the Eid Al-Fitr interval, airways strategically adapt to accommodate the surge in passengers, each domestically and internationally.
This contains vital will increase in seat capability and flight frequency, making certain smoother journey experiences for all passengers.
Saudia, as an illustration, has considerably elevated the variety of seats each domestically and internationally for this yr’s Eid in comparison with the earlier yr’s season.
In keeping with the Kingdom’s nationwide provider, the allocation of worldwide sector seats rose by 36 % to over 246,000 seats, with 602 flights, marking a 44 % improve in comparison with Eid 2023.
Moreover, the home sector skilled a surge in seat capability, with a rise of 21 % totaling greater than 270,000 seats. This was accompanied by 1,300 flights, reflecting a 21 % improve in comparison with the earlier yr’s Eid season.
“Saudia is dedicated to offering a versatile operational plan all year long and through peak seasons. As we mark the top of Ramadan and the start of Eid Al-Fitr, we’re seeing a excessive journey demand and are ready to offer further flights and improve seat capability to deal with the rising demand,” Sulaiman Yaqoobi, chief working officer at Saudia Group, informed Arab Information.
He added: “We’re additionally sharing the spirit of Eid with Saudia’s visitors onboard and at AlFursan lounges by distributing sweets and broadcasting Eid Takbeer, as we at all times try to present our visitors the most effective expertise attainable.”
Saudia can be capitalizing on this chance by providing a promotional deal, that includes a 25 % low cost for journey between Saudi Arabia, different Gulf Cooperation Council international locations, and Egypt within the hospitality class.
The reserving window for this supply is from April 7 to April 30, with the journey interval spanning from April 9 to Sept. 30, 2024.
The Almosafer CEO highlighted that Dubai stands out as a “most popular vacation spot” as a consequence of its proximity to Saudi Arabia and its visa-free standing for Saudi passport holders, making journey there handy, “which suggests folks can journey with nice ease.”
In keeping with the newest knowledge from the UAE’s GCAA, flydubai elevated its flights to the Kingdom by 40 % from 93 weekly flights in February to 130 flights in March, whereas Etihad Airways additionally elevated its flights by greater than 22.2 %, from 63 flights in February to 77 flights in March.
In the meantime, Emirates operated roughly 67 weekly flights to the Kingdom in March, masking Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah, and Riyadh, whereas Wizz Air Abu Dhabi operated about 21 weekly flights together with Dammam and Madinah.
Moreover, flights operated by Air Arabia reached roughly 88 weekly flights, the GCAA knowledge confirmed.
Throughout Ramadan and the Umrah season, from March 11 to April 7, Etihad Airways efficiently transported round 45,000 passengers to its locations in Saudi Arabia. Most vacationers visiting the Kingdom throughout this era have been from the UAE, India, Pakistan, and Indonesia.
Surge in flights
The impression on touring throughout Eid Al-Fitr is critical, with Saudi Arabia’s demonstrated means to handle crowds and make sure the easy operation of non secular occasions offering reassurance to vacationers.
Moreover, the distribution of passengers throughout key Umrah airports provides insights into the nation’s transportation infrastructure and connectivity.
Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz Worldwide Airport emerges as the first gateway for Umrah vacationers, accommodating a staggering 81 % of the anticipated passengers.
“Though Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz Worldwide Airport has essentially the most site visitors, Madinah’s Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Worldwide Airport follows go well with, dealing with 16 % of the overall site visitors,” Al-Hamash stated.
He added: “Taif Worldwide Airport and Prince Abdul Mohsin Bin Abdulaziz Worldwide Airport in Yanbu function further entry factors.”
Al-Hamash additionally outlined the anticipated variety of arriving and departing flights, each chartered and scheduled, to and from main Umrah airports in the course of the season, spanning from the primary Ramadan to the sixth of Shawwal or till after Eid Al-Fitr.
“The overall anticipated variety of flights surpasses 37,000, indicating a notable 19 % improve in comparison with the earlier yr,” he stated.
General, the Umrah and Eid Al-Fitr holidays are enjoying a key position in reviving the hospitality trade, signaling a return to the strong efficiency recorded throughout the GCC area.
