Number of Hajj Pilgrims Increases to 93,000
Third carriers to fly pilgrims
Minister says Biman, Saudi Airlines will carry 68,000
The number of hajj pilgrims is likely to exceed 93,000 this year, up 61 percent over the previous year prompting the civil aviation ministry to allow third carriers to fly pilgrims.
Biman and Saudi Arabian Airlines will fly 68,000 pilgrims while the other airlines will carry the rest, said Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister GM Qauder yesterday.
"We have decided to allow other airlines to carry pilgrims because the number of pilgrims has surged this year," said the minister after a meeting with representatives from local and foreign airlines.
The decision came after the number of pilgrims had exceeded the government projection of 75,000 this year.
"If there is any disruption in service, we will take further steps," he said.
Biman will carry 40,000 pilgrims and Saudi Arabian Airlines 28,000.
In addition, two airlines from Saudi Arabia with Gulf Air, Etihad Airways, Kuwait Airways and Qatar Airways will fly the remaining pilgrims.
Md Ibrahim Bahar, president of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh, said hajj management was quite good last year and gained confidence of many prospective pilgrims.
"More than 10,000 pilgrims were unable to perform Umrah earlier due to visa problems. The majority of them have deposited money for hajj now," he said.
Bahar said allowing carriers other than Biman and Saudi Arabian Airlines would not benefit pilgrims.
He feared that some pilgrims might face accommodation problem in Makkah because of the surge in their number.
"It has become necessary as there is no alternative. Biman and Saudi Arabia will not be able to carry such a huge number of pilgrims," he added.
Officials of foreign airlines lauded the government decision saying it will help pilgrims travel at a convenient time.
"The decision will help ease pressure on the two airlines. It will also open more options to pilgrims, who will be able to travel at their convenient time," said K Ashraful Kabir, country manager of Etihad Airways.
In the past, hajj pilgrims had to depend only on two carriers -- Bangladesh Biman and Saudi Arabian Airlines -- obliging them to wait longer for return flights.
Hajj Agencies Association President Bahar said pilgrims might suffer due to long transit hours as some of the airlines will operate flights to Saudi Arabia with stopovers.
"The transit time should be two to three hours. But if it prolongs, pilgrims will suffer. Monitoring will be needed to check prolonged stopover," said Bahar.
Hajj flights are expected to start on October 8. A pilgrim has to pay $1350 (Tk 93,420) for a two-way ticket to Jeddah.
The civil aviation minister said foreign carriers except Saudi Arabian Airlines would have to pay Biman a royalty of $150 (Tk 10,380) on a ticket.
"It will be beneficial for Biman."
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