The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The first Hajj flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited will leave here for Jeddah at 6.55am on November 12 next.

"Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited along with Saudi Airlines will carry about 45,000 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims to Jeddah this year," Managing Director of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr M A Momen told BSS.

The National Flag-carrier, Biman, like the previous years, has embarked upon a programme to ferry some 35,000 pilgrims including 5,583 ballotee to and from Jeddah to perform the holy Hajj, he said adding that Saudia, the national airline of Saudi Arabia, will carry 10,000 pilgrims.

Dr Momen said, this year's hajj-fare for both bellotee and non-bellottee pilgrims has been fixed at US $ 1,250.

The Hajj flights-2007 will be completed on December 14. The post-hajj operation will commence from December 23 to last till January 24, 2008 when the airline will bring the last Hajj pilgrims home.

Dr Momen said, we have applied to the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation in Jeddah seeking 99 'flight slot' to ferry Hajj pilgrims but they approved 85 slots for us.

After getting the approval, hajj flight schedule was announced, he said adding, according to the schedule, the airline has procured one buoying- 707 from Ashbin Aeronautical Authority in Australia on lease while two wide-bodied DC-10 from Biman's own fleet will be used to operate 85 hajj flights to ensure smooth operation.

Biman will operate a total of six flights to and from Chittagong to Jeddah under the programme of Hajj Flight. The first flight from Chittagong will start on November 26 and the last flight on December 7. The post-hajj operation from Jeddah to Chittagong will commence from January 6, 2008 to last till January 17 when the airline will bring the last Hajj pilgrims home.

For the first time, Biman will operate two hajj flights to and from Sylhet to Jeddah. The two flights will starts for Jeddah on November 29 and 30 respectively and return flights from Jeddah will reach in Sylhet on January 9 and 10 respectively.