Saudia redefines the Hajj experience with end-to-end pilgrimage services

InsideRecent·2025-06-03 20:01

SINGAPORE, 26 May 2025: In a historic move that redefines how millions undertake one of the world’s most sacred journeys, Saudia, the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has unveiled a bold, end-to-end Hajj travel strategy for 2025.

Going far beyond air travel, the airline is transforming into a full-fledged pilgrimage partner — delivering a seamless blend of aviation, hospitality, and on-ground logistics for pilgrims from Southeast Asia and across the globe.

This visionary initiative marks a turning point in how care, innovation, and scale are integrated into the Hajj journey.

For the first time, Saudia will offer complete support — covering everything from flight services and visa facilitation to multilingual assistance, special accommodations, and medical provisions at the holy sites.

Over One Million Seats and 100+ Global Destinations

With a modern fleet of 158 aircraft, Saudia is allocating over one million seats for the 2025 Hajj season. The airline is projecting a market share of up to 35% and will operate from more than 100 global destinations.

Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore are among the key focus areas, given their large pilgrim populations.

To meet the soaring demand, Saudia is increasing flight frequencies and streamlining travel processes —from ticket issuance to arrival logistics. More than 11,000 frontline personnel and technicians will be deployed over a 74-day operational period to ensure smooth operations.

Elevating the Pilgrimage with Innovation and Care

At the heart of Saudia’s expanded service offering lies a deep commitment to hospitality. Pilgrims can expect dedicated boarding pass issuance, enhanced in-flight services, and multilingual support in Indonesian and English.

At the holy sites in Makkah and Madinah, they will benefit from curated service packages, exclusive rest zones, and dining facilities inspired by Saudia’s signature AlFursan lounges.

The airline is also investing over SAR 100 million to provide thoughtful amenities and raise the bar for Hajj service delivery.

“We aim to deliver a holistic experience that meets the highest standards of care and hospitality,” said H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia. “Hajj remains one of our top national priorities.”

“The Coolest Ihram”: A World-First Innovation

Among the most talked-about innovations is the launch of The Coolest Ihram — the world’s first high-tech pilgrimage garment.

Developed in collaboration with design agency Landor and cooling fabric experts brrr®, this Ihram features patented cooling minerals, moisture-wicking technology and rapid-drying fabrics that reduce skin temperature by up to 2°C.

It offers UPF 50+ protection while fully complying with Islamic requirements and will be available to Saudia pilgrims beginning June 2025.

Inclusive Travel, World-Class Performance

Saudia’s 2025 Hajj blueprint also includes special accommodations for pilgrims with disabilities, onboard oxygen services, medical stretcher support, and timely prayer and Miqat announcements — making the journey more inclusive than ever.

This transformation is in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and positions Saudia as a strategic enabler of national goals.

The airline continues to strengthen its global standing, having recently been awarded “World’s Most Improved Airline 2024” by Skytrax, “World Class Airline” by APEX for the third year in a row, and recognized for top on-time performance globally by Cirium.

By merging scale, service excellence, and smart innovation, Saudia is not just flying pilgrims to the Kingdom — it is redefining how they experience every step of their sacred journey.

For more details, visit www.saudia.com.