DUBAI 20 August 2017: Emirates will operate extra flights to Jeddah to help facilitate travel for thousands of pilgrims this year heading to and from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Haj.
The airline will operate 45 additional flights to Jeddah and 12 additional flights to Madinah from 17th August until 11th September to help serve the 2 million pilgrims expected to travel to the Holy City of Makkah during Haj this year, said Wam.
These services will run in parallel with Emirates’ regularly scheduled services to Jeddah. The airline will also operate its A380 to Madinah which will also support the increased demand during this period.
The additional services are available to travellers holding a valid Haj visa. This year, top inbound destinations Emirates is expecting Haj pilgrims to come from are Yangon, Manchester, Mauritius, Jakarta, Karachi, Lagos and Nairobi.
“Travelling for Haj is a unique experience for Muslims around the world, and we expect over 20,000 pilgrims to travel with us 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 Makkah. 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,” said Adil Al Ghaith Senior Vice-President, Commercial Operations, Gulf, Middle East and Iran.
Vietnamese pilgrims leave for UAE-sponsored Haj
HANOI: The UAE Embassy in Vietnam has overseen the departure of a group of Vietnamese Muslim Haj pilgrims, who have been sponsored by the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, as part of its efforts to help Muslims fulfill the mandatory pillar of Islam.
The pilgrims departed from Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Ho Chi Minh, early morning on Thursday to perform Haj, as per a programme to visit the holy sites in Makkah and Madinah until 24th September.
The UAE Embassy in Hanoi, in co-operation with the UAE charities, has been carrying out yearly pilgrimage missions, as part of many humanitarian missions in Vietnam.
By Sheena Amos