May 24 – Handicapped travelers will now be able to enjoy facilities especially designed for them at the King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah. The services have been launched in collaboration with the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Saudi Arabian Airlines, Saudia Catering, Abjad Daycare Centre and Saudi Arabian Petroleum Supply Company.
Talking about the services, GACA PR Director Khalid Abdullah Al-Khaibary said: “We are assigning top priority to the handicapped, especially women, and extending them the best possible facilities so that they have a smooth passage through the airport until they board the aircraft. The arrangements are designed to ease their journey at all stages and reassure them that in many cases they can travel independently without the assistance of family members. This will also be cost saving for them.”
A trial run at KAIA’s South Terminal was held to test the new procedures and facilities. Physically disabled people took part in the trial.