ID :
29839
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 23:03
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/29839
The shortlink copeid
ALTERNATIVE ARRANGMENT TO FLY MECCA-BOUND THAI PILGRIMS
BANGKOK, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- Alternative arrangements are being made to fly
680 Mecca-bound Thai Muslim pilgrims after almost a week delay due to congestion
in Jeddah, Global International Travel and Tour Sdn Bhd said Wednesday.
Its director, Adam Abdullah, said the company had sought the assistance of
Saudi Arabia's Fly Sama Airlines to send the pilgrims in the next available
slots at the Jeddah airport.
"The Fly Sama plane will arrive in Penang today but the departure will
depend on the clearance given by the Saudi authorities as the airports there are
very congested. We are doing our best to ensure all the pilgrims will be able to
attend the haj season," he told Bernama.
Adam also said it was not accurate that all the pilgrims had paid about
140,000 baht (about RM14,000) each to Global International.
He added that his company was only arranging the air travel while the rest
of the arrangements were being undertaken by a Thai company.
He said Global International had signed an agreement with Annur and Travel
Service Thailand to carry 680 haj pilgrims to Mecca during this haj season, with
two flights were scheduled on Nov 6 and 7.
However, due to congestion in Jeddah, he said NASAIR, Saudi Arabia's second
national carrier which was supposed to provide the planes, could not do so due
to difficulties in getting landing slots in Jeddah.
Adam said Annur Thailand was given a one-day notice about the postponement
of the Nov 6 flight and two days for the following flight.
"But due to the situation in southern Thailand, the company could not
contact the pilgrims on time. The pilgrims had already gathered in Danok (near
the Malaysia-Thai border) and came to Penang," he said.
Adam said although it was not the company's responsibility, Global
International took the initiative to provide accommodation and food for the
pilgrims at the Tabung Haji Complex, which cost about RM20,000 a day.
Saudi Arabia has provided a quota of 14,000 for Thailand and most of the
Mecca-bound Thais are flying from Bangkok, Phuket and Hatyai International
Airports.
-- BERNAMA
680 Mecca-bound Thai Muslim pilgrims after almost a week delay due to congestion
in Jeddah, Global International Travel and Tour Sdn Bhd said Wednesday.
Its director, Adam Abdullah, said the company had sought the assistance of
Saudi Arabia's Fly Sama Airlines to send the pilgrims in the next available
slots at the Jeddah airport.
"The Fly Sama plane will arrive in Penang today but the departure will
depend on the clearance given by the Saudi authorities as the airports there are
very congested. We are doing our best to ensure all the pilgrims will be able to
attend the haj season," he told Bernama.
Adam also said it was not accurate that all the pilgrims had paid about
140,000 baht (about RM14,000) each to Global International.
He added that his company was only arranging the air travel while the rest
of the arrangements were being undertaken by a Thai company.
He said Global International had signed an agreement with Annur and Travel
Service Thailand to carry 680 haj pilgrims to Mecca during this haj season, with
two flights were scheduled on Nov 6 and 7.
However, due to congestion in Jeddah, he said NASAIR, Saudi Arabia's second
national carrier which was supposed to provide the planes, could not do so due
to difficulties in getting landing slots in Jeddah.
Adam said Annur Thailand was given a one-day notice about the postponement
of the Nov 6 flight and two days for the following flight.
"But due to the situation in southern Thailand, the company could not
contact the pilgrims on time. The pilgrims had already gathered in Danok (near
the Malaysia-Thai border) and came to Penang," he said.
Adam said although it was not the company's responsibility, Global
International took the initiative to provide accommodation and food for the
pilgrims at the Tabung Haji Complex, which cost about RM20,000 a day.
Saudi Arabia has provided a quota of 14,000 for Thailand and most of the
Mecca-bound Thais are flying from Bangkok, Phuket and Hatyai International
Airports.
-- BERNAMA
