Afghan Airlines charge huge amount for 7-day quarantine period in Saudi

KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghan passengers travelling to Saudi Arabia are complaining that they are charged extra amount of money by Kam Air and Aryana Afghan Airlines for quarantine period which they have to go through upon arrival in Riyadh or Jeddah.

Recently, Saudi Arabia flexed its migration policy and allowed people from some countries including Afghanistan but passengers have to go through quarantine upon their arrival to the kingdom.

Waris Khan Hotak, a social media activist highlighting issues of Afghans in Saudi Arabia, said after Saudi Arabia announcement to allow passengers entry in the kingdom, airline companies started charging Afghans additional $1,300 for spending quarantine period in Riyadh and $700 for those spending quarantine in Jeddah.

He said: “This is a huge amount Afghans are coming here for work how would they pay this amount.”

He said in the past when Afghans traveled for Umrah, air companies charged single person $700 and that included air ticket, accommodation, transport and some other services. Now they charge up to $1,300 only for one week quarantine.

Afghanistan Ambassador in Riyadh Ahmad Javed Mujadidi confirmed the problem and said through an official letter the Saudi government and airlines had been urged to reduce the amount.

“I asked companies to reduce the amount they charge on passengers for seven days quarantine and also asked Saudi officials that passengers will stay in their own places during quarantine,” he said.

Before the announcement, Saudi government was asked to provide relief to Afghan passengers so they could stay quarantine days with their families in their homes.

Nh/ma