RIYADH: This year’s Hajj season was declared a success with the Kingdom’s airports serving over 1.5 million pilgrims and transporting 3.2 million passengers through 102 airlines during the pilgrimage period.  The number of passengers during this year’s Hajj season increased over 86 percent compared with 2022, a statement from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) noted. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, the GACA president, emphasized the success of the operational plan and its remarkable achievements.  Al-Duailej expressed his appreciation to all sectors that played a pivotal role in efficiently managing the flow of pilgrims at the airports during this year’s Hajj season. Flight statistics during the Hajj season showed Indonesia as the top country for incoming and outgoing pilgrims. India ranks second, followed by Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nigeria, GACA figures show. The “Bag-Free Hajj” initiative aimed at improving services for departing pilgrims via airports also proved to be a success as over 680,000 pilgrims, encompassing 2,200 flights, handled more than 1.148 million bags. Saudi Arabia aims to be a leading player in the Middle East’s aviation sector through its strategy to expand air connectivity to 250 destinations via the Kingdom’s airports by 2030, as encompassed by Saudi Vision 2030.