Saudi airlines to carry 25,000 Indonesian pilgrims

Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAA) has obtained the right to carry 25,000 of the 71,126 Indonesians who will be performing the Haj (pilgrimage) to Mecca this year, a spokesman for Indonesian flag carrier "Garuda" said here Tuesday.

Indonesian news agency ANTARA quoted an official at Garuda as saying that the Saudi company would transport the prospective pilgrims from Surabaya and Jakarta using wide-bodied aircraft such as Boeing B-747s and B-767s.

The Indonesian government had decided to give the right to carry the pilgrims to Garuda Indonesia and SAA, while before the Haj season, transportation was monopolized by Garuda.