- Emirates to Operate 57 Extra Flights for Hajj
Emirates has revealed plans to operate extra flights to Jeddah to help facilitate travel for thousands of pilgrims this year heading for Saudi Arabia for the Hajj.
The airline said it would be operating 45 additional flights to Jeddah and 12 additional flights to Medina from August 17 until 11 September to help serve the two million pilgrims expected to travel to Mecca during the Hajj this year, with valid hajj visa.
“These services will run in parallel with Emirates’ regularly scheduled services to Jeddah. The airline will also be operating its A380 to Medina, which will also support the increased demand during this period. This year, top inbound destinations Emirates is expecting hajj pilgrims to come from are Yangon, Manchester, Mauritius, Jakarta, Karachi, Lagos and Nairobi,” the airline said.
The Emirates’ Senior Vice-President, Commercial Operations, Gulf, Middle East and Iran, Adil Al Ghaith, said that travelling for hajj was a unique experience for Muslims around the world, and the airline expected over 20,000 pilgrims to travel with it this year.
“With a sizeable increase in demand for air travel during this period, Emirates is helping to make the journey more seamless for the scores of pilgrims making their way to the Holy City of Mecca. Whether it’s in the air or on the ground, Emirates aims to provide all its customers with the best experience in line with their faith, particularly at this significant time and important journey,” he said.
According to him, Emirates has appointed a dedicated group of airport workers to seamlessly facilitate the passenger ground experience for the Hajj, in addition to dedicated check-in counters that have been set up for the Hajj passengers in Dubai.
He added, “In the air, several initiatives have been planned in keeping with the values and traditions that pilgrims uphold when travelling for the Hajj.
“Extra provisions will be made to accommodate the Hajj traveller needs such as performing ablution, advising passengers about Al-Miqat and Ihram (when pilgrims enter a state of sanctity) and other arrangements that will help ease their journey.”
