Complaints Mount as Rush Starts for Vacationers to Return

Jeddah:With Saudi schools reopening soon, complaints are mounting about vacationers unable to return in time. This is attributed to the problem of finding airline seats.
Air-India’s Western Province Manager Ashok Kumar said vacationers generally tend to switch their dates of return. The airline operated three extra flights, one each from Calicut, Bombay and Hyderabad between Aug. 17 and 19 to clear the rush of passengers returning to Jeddah. These flights were meant to bring back families, students and children as Indian schools were set to re-open on Aug. 20. “But we had to fly almost half-empty, as not all vacationers were keen to take those flights. Instead, they chose to postpone their return,” Kumar said.
Another important reason for the current pressure on airline seats is the continuous inflow of Umrah pilgrims from various world destinations, a SriLankan Airlines executive said.
29/08/06 K.S. Ramkumar/Arab News

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