Jeddah- Spring break turns air travel into a nightmare 

(MENAFN - Arab News) With the school mid-year break only days away, local flights, especially those coming to Jeddah, are all fully booked despite airlines adding more domestic flights.

Seats on domestic flights operating from Riyadh to Jeddah at the beginning of, and during, the holiday and on flights back to Riyadh at the end of the holiday are impossible to get. Those who wish to travel for work purposes for any local destination and come back to Jeddah within the following 10 days will definitely be stuck.

Ahmed Bogari, an 18-year-old student at King Saud University whose family lives in Jeddah, had to go to Riyadh on Sunday to get his semester results. He left Jeddah in the early morning, got his results and then wanted to return to Jeddah immediately. He was trapped in the airport for almost 10 hours.

"I went to the airport around 10 in the morning to get on the first flight back to Jeddah. Each time I asked for any flight on any airline and they always responded that I should come back after an hour and a half or two hours. All planes were fully booked in advance," he said.

Bogari did, however, manage to get on a 6.30 p.m. flight after his family was able to pull some strings for him.

Mazen was another unlucky would-be traveler. He had to go to Riyadh for a few days for some urgent meetings.

Mazen was able to get a seat to Riyadh but found it impossible to get a return flight from Riyadh on Feb. 11.

There are no seats to Jeddah on any airline — Saudia, SAMA, NAS — on Feb. 10, 11 or 12. Mazen was told there were no flights available until Feb. 20.

"I had to cancel my trip to Riyadh and reschedule everything for the week after," he said.

Saudi Arabian Airlines has announced that on Wednesday, which is the beginning of the spring holiday, it has increased the number of both domestic and international flights.

Saudia has added 18 flights from Riyadh to Jeddah to Riyadh as well as four flights from Jeddah to Dammam to Jeddah. Extra flights to both Abha and Madinah have also been added.

A source at the airport said whoever came first had priority to get on the plane.

"We don't usually say this to people when they make their reservations but it is known that during the holidays, airports are chaotic whether in Jeddah or in any other major city."

An alternative to air travel to and from Jeddah is travel by bus. Companies such as SAPTCO have reported an increase in passengers as the school holiday nears.

The SAPTCO supervisor in downtown Jeddah said, "The increase in the number of our passengers is a clear indication that people cannot find seats on domestic flights."

There is even an alternative to travel by bus — taxis and freelance drivers with their cars. Just outside the SAPTCO bus station in downtown Jeddah, taxi drivers and freelancers are seeking customers.

"We provide a cheaper way for those who want to go to such destinations as Riyadh, Taif or Abha. We also provide quicker service since our vehicles and loads are lighter than a bus," said Ahmed, a freelance driver.

By Laura Bashraheel, with input by Sultan Altamimi