DUBAI 6 July 2018: Emirates will operate extra flights to Jeddah and Madinah to help facilitate travel for pilgrims heading to and from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Haj.
There will be 33 additional flights to Jeddah and Madinah from 6 to 31 August to support the journey for pilgrims expected to travel to Makkah during Haj this year.
These services will run in parallel with Emirates’ regularly scheduled services to Jeddah and Madinah. These additional flight services are available to travellers holding a valid Haj visa. This year, top inbound destinations Emirates is expecting Haj pilgrims to come from are Pakistan, Senegal, the United States, the UK, Australia, Indonesia, the Ivory Coast and Nigeria.
Adil Al Ghaith, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Gulf, Middle East and Iran said: “We expect over 25,000 pilgrims to travel with Emirates this year. With the significant demand for air travel during this period, Emirates is deploying extra flights to ensure more seamless connections for the scores of pilgrims making their way to the Holy City of Makkah.”
Ground Team
On the ground in Dubai, Emirates has a dedicated airport team whose purpose is to seamlessly facilitate the passenger ground experience for Haj. In addition, dedicated check-in and transfer counters will be set up for Hajj passengers transiting in Dubai.
In the air, several initiatives have been planned in keeping with the values and traditions that pilgrims uphold when travelling for Haj. Extra provisions will be made to accommodate Haj traveller needs such as performing ablutions, advising passengers about Al Miqat and Ihram (the phase when pilgrims enter a state of sanctity) and other arrangements that will help ease their journey.
Emirates’ award winning ice system will also feature a special Haj video that covers safety, formalities and information about performing the pilgrimage. Pilgrims will also be able to tune into the Holy Quran channel.
On flights from Jeddah, Haj passengers can bring up to 5 litres of holy water (Zamzam) which will be placed in special areas in the cargo hold. As with all Emirates flights, Haj passengers will enjoy extra generous Emirates baggage allowance of up to 35kg in Economy Class, 40kg in Business Class and 50kg in First Class.