SAUDI ARABIA AIRLINES PROVIDES SPECIAL SERVICES TO THE DISABLED

    Jeddah, 23 Sya’ban 1434/2 July 2013 (MINA) – Saudi Arabia Airlines (Saudia) is extending consummate services to people with special needs. These services are being provided both in-flight and at domestic and international airports.

   The announcement was delivered by Abdullah Bin Masheb Al-Ajhar, Saudia’s Assistant Director General for Public Relations in Jakarta, Monday.

   “We are providing integrated services to the passengers of special needs on our flights, at 27 domestic airports and and in all international airports,” he said.

   Al-Ajhar said the services were aimed at enabling the passengers with special needs to complete their journey in ease and comfort.

    “Our services for the disabled include reservation, ground services and in-flight attention. We also serve them with special meals,” he said.

    Al-Ajhar recalled that Saudia had won many international awards for its services to the disabled.

     “Saudia is among the very first airlines which took care of the disabled,” he said.

    Al-Ajhar said the airline provides its special needs passengers with comfortable wheelchairs, escalators, sticks, hearing aids and special transport in addition to special meals.

      “There are specialists who take care of the disabled the moment they arrive at the airport and during the flight until they arrive at their final destination,” he said.

     Saudia had participated in the first meeting of the government departments concerned with disability which was organized last month in Jeddah by the Health Affairs.

      During the meeting, Saudia announced a 50 percent discount on air tickets to the disabled.

      The meeting was to prepare for a more comprehensive gathering on the disabled to be held in Jeddah on August 31.

      “Saudia has a special unit to care for the disabled which was established 16 years ago,” Al-Ajhar said.

      Saudia has established a special website on the Internet to inform the passengers with special needs of the services that will be available for them.

     It has also launched a pre-flight information program (PFI) to provide flight details and inform the stewardesses about the disabled passengers traveling with them, the Saudi Gazette quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA) as reporting. (T/P09/E1)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).