Hajj agencies yet to take 11,000 confirmed tickets, last flights on Nov 12
Hajj agencies are yet to take the air tickets booked for around 11,000 pilgrims although hajj flights are scheduled to leave for Saudi Arabia on November 12, said officials.
Civil aviation and tourism minister GM Quader on Saturday called upon all concerned to collect the confirmed air tickets in two days to avoid any crisis as the hajj flight operation by Biman and the third carrier would be concluded on November 10 while Saudi Arabia alone would carry hajj pilgrims to Jeddah on November 11 and 12.
‘I request all concerned to take confirmed air tickets for hajj pilgrims in next two days so that nobody has to face any uncertainty at the last moment,’ GM Quader said at a press conference at Shahjalal International Airport. He feared the delay in collecting the tickets could cause a last-minute hassle or the rest of the pilgrims.
He, however, did not say how many hajj passengers were yet to receive the confirmed air tickets.
The minister said that a total of 78,675 pilgrims had been ferried to Jeddah since the hajj flights started on October 9.
‘Out of 90,737 pilgrims, who have got visas for performing hajj this year, 12,062 are yet to fly to Jeddah whereas Biman is now facing capacity losses,’ he added.
Hajj Agencies Association Secretary general MA Rashid Shah said that the private operators had booked all the seats necessary for the remaining pilgrims.
‘We will take the confirmed tickets in a day or two. Seats are available and there will be no crisis for the delay,’ he said.
The HAAB leader, however, admitted that they were yet to take tickets for around 11,000 pilgrims.
When asked about allegations that some agencies were realising increased ticket fare although the government fixed it at $1,350 for each passenger, Quader said they would investigate the matter and take action if any agency was found involved in such irregularities.
The return flights will begin on November 21 and end on December 22 as hajj, the biggest congregation of the Muslims, will take place in the middle of November, said officials.
The government this year has allowed eight airlines as ‘third carrier’ other than the state-run Biman Bangladesh Airlines and the Saudi Arabian Airlines to ferry increased hajj pilgrims to and from Jeddah for $1,350 each passenger.
