Algerian pilgrims facing tremendous difficulties to get back to Algeria
Hundreds of Algerian pilgrims including chronically- ill ones were forced to wait long hours in the parking lots and outside the boarding areas of Djeddah, Saudi Arabia, international airport following their late arrival to the airport for the check in.
- The people in charge of the transfer of the Algerian pilgrims from their hotels to the airport failed to arrive on due time and made more than 6 hours delay causing a lot of inconveniences at the check in; more than 300 pilgrims were boarded in less than half an hour while the operation requires more than 8 hours in normal times, according to the Saudi authorities.
- The representative of the Algerian airlines company in Saudi Arabia and the main supervisor of the operation, Abdelkader Seddar has yesterday revealed to Echourok that the delays registered in yesterday’s flights and the day before was due to the late arrival of the pilgrims to Djeddah airport to complete the boarding procedures.
- He has noted that the Sunday’s flight from Djeddah to Algiers international airport was scheduled at 11 p.m , but most of the pilgrims arrived at the airport at around 10.50 p.m while they were supposed to be there four hours before at least.
- He considered the traffic delays at Djeddah international airport as something natural on account of the hectic activities registered by hundred s of international companies; a flight is sometimes forced to wait long hours on the tarmac and the Algerian pilgrims are not allowed to proceed to the boarding area all along this period.
- Despite all the goodwill and efforts deployed by the Algerian airlines representative Abdelkader Seddar and Touring club representative Mohammed Maati to transfer the Algerian pilgrims in good conditions, the operation was spoiled by some irresponsible practices from the company’s personnel.
- One of them, in this respect, has intervened to facilitate access on board of some 70 businessmen of his acquaintance in the first flight and 9 in the second leaving many pilgrims stranded on their own at Djeddah airport.