New service offers seamless check-in, baggage collection, and boarding pass issuance in Makkah, enhancing convenience for pilgrims
27 February 2025
DOHA, Qatar – Qatar Airways, the World’s Best Airline as voted by Skytrax 2024, has introduced off-airport check-in service in Makkah, providing Hajj and Umrah passengers with a seamless and hassle-free travel experience. Launched in partnership with Saudi Ground Services (SGS), this service enables passengers to complete check-in formalities, receive their boarding passes, and the baggage to be collected from the city, ensuring a smooth journey to the airport.
Effective 1 March 2025, Qatar Airways passengers departing from Jeddah can take advantage of a new off-airport check-in service at Makkah Clock Royal Tower, a Fairmont Hotel. Conveniently located at the hotel entrance from the ring road on L2, this service streamlines the check-in process, reducing airport wait times and allowing pilgrims to focus on their spiritual journey with ease and comfort.
Qatar Airways’ Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “At Qatar Airways, we recognise the profound significance of Hajj and Umrah and remain committed to enhancing the travel experience for our passengers. By introducing the off-airport check-in service in Makkah, in partnership with Saudi Ground Services, we are ensuring that pilgrims can begin their journey with convenience and peace of mind. This initiative reflects our dedication to delivering world-class services tailored to the needs of our passengers, reaffirming our commitment to seamless and innovative travel solutions.”
Saudi Ground Service’ Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mohammad Abdul Kareem Mazi, said: “At Saudi Ground Services, we are honoured to continuously expand our innovative Hajj & Umrah off-airport solutions in collaboration with our partner Airlines ensuring we fulfil our commitment to serve all Hajj & Umrah passengers. Our partnership with Qatar Airways reflects our shared dedication to deliver seamless and Innovative travel experiences enabling pilgrims focus on their spiritual journey while we take care of their travel needs with convenience, efficiency, and peace of mind.”
Passengers using the off-airport check-in service will benefit from an expedited departure process, with baggage securely transported to the airport and minimal waiting times at check-in counters. This initiative is part of Qatar Airways’ ongoing efforts to enhance its services for Hajj and Umrah travellers, offering a superior level of convenience and comfort from the moment their journey begins.
This service is part of Qatar Airways’ award-winning offerings, designed to provide the highest levels of comfort, reliability, and care for those undertaking this sacred journey. As the World’s Best Airline for an unprecedented eight times, Qatar Airways remains committed to elevating every aspect of the passengers’ travel experience to passengers travelling from Saudi Arabia. With operations to 11 cities across the Kingdom, offering over 120 weekly flights – including 35 weekly flights to Jeddah – Qatar Airways continues to enhance connectivity and convenience, ensuring a seamless and exceptional journey for travellers.
For more information on Qatar Airways services, visit www.qatarairways.com
About SGS
The Saudi Ground Services Company (SGS) is a benchmark of reliability and efficiency within the aviation industry, proudly supporting operations at all 28 airports across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
As a trusted and professional partner, we are privileged to provide world-class ground handling services to Saudi national carriers and a wide range of international airlines operating flights to and from Saudi airports.
SGS offers a full spectrum of ground handling solutions, encompassing every stage of the passenger journey as well as aircraft ramp handling. Our services include issuing boarding passes, managing baggage handling, and ensuring the smooth and timely departure of flights.
We are distinguished by our ability to maintain clear and effective communication with passengers, seamlessly manage complex operations during the high season’s, and uphold the highest standards of safety for passengers and their belongings.
Driven by an unwavering commitment to operational excellence, SGS ensures punctual flight departures and delivers a seamless high-quality travel experience. This dedication reinforces our position as a professional and reliable service provider in the aviation sector, consistently setting the standard for exceptional ground handling services.
About Qatar Airways
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways won the ‘World’s Best Airline’ for the unprecedented eighth time at the 2024 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. Qatar Airways has been the World’s Best Airline in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2024. The airline continues to be synonymous with excellence, also taking home, ‘World’s Best Business Class’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge’, and ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’. As leaders in industry innovation and digital adoption, Qatar Airways was also recently voted the ‘World’s Best Airline Website’ by World Travel Tech Awards.
Qatar Airways was the first Airline in the Middle East to be certified to the highest level of IATA’s Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) programme, based on recognised environmental management system principles (such as ISO 14001). As an inaugural signatory to the Buckingham Palace Declaration in March 2016, Qatar Airways became the first airline globally to be certified to the industry standard for the prevention of illegal wildlife trafficking in aviation.
Qatar Airways currently flies to over 170 destinations worldwide, connecting through its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport, the ‘World’s Best Airport’, as voted by Skytrax in 2021, 2022, and 2024. In 2024, Hamad International Airport also received the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ accolade for 10 consecutive years, as well as ‘World’s Best Airport Shopping’ for the second year in a row.
