Pilgrims start arriving in Saudi Arabia

So far, at least 62,500 pilgrims have arrived on board 276 flights and immediately proceeded to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. The number of pilgrims coming from outside is expected to be higher than last year’s 1.7 million, especially as swine flu fears have dissipated.

According to e General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), there are six Haj flights every hour and 144 flights every day. The number of Haj flights peak on the second week of November, reaching 200 flights every day.