New Delhi:
National carrier Air India plans to operate 230 special Haj flights to Jeddah from seven cities - Delhi, Srinagar, Mumbai, Kochi, Hyderabad, Panaji and Nagpur this year.
These flights will be operated in two phases, starting today, and would fly a total of 38,000 Hajjis directly to Jeddah, Air India said in a release.
In the first phase of outbound flights from India to Jeddah, that commences from today, a total of 115 special flights from these seven cities will be operated and will continue till September 17.
Air India will operate special flights for Haj pilgrims from seven Indian cities - Delhi, Srinagar, Mumbai, Kochi, Hyderabad, Panaji and Nagpur. A total of 230 direct flights in two phases will fly 38,000 Hajjis directly to Jeddah.
In the return phase, another 115 flights would be operated to ferry back the Haj pilgrims and such flights will continue in operations till October 28, the airline said.
Air India has deployed 340-seater B777-300ER planes to fly the pilgrims to/from Jeddah, it said adding it has offered exclusive pre-boarding facilities besides providing special meals to all the pilgrims.
The airline has set up a dedicated team to provide all assistance to the pilgrims, it added.