BSS, Dhaka :
The return hajj flights from Jeddah are being delayed as the Saudi authorities have taken special security measures and also for the gridlock from Makkah to Jeddah due to the Mina tragedy, Biman Officials said yesterday.
“An unusual situation is prevailing in Mina and elsewhere surrounding Makkah after the tragic stamped…the traffic
congestion is still there and for that, it took long time for pilgrims to reach the Hajj terminal at Jeddah Airport,” Biman’s Deputy Manager of Public relations Tasmin Akhtar told BSS.
Besides, she said, the Saudi authorities have taken special security measures everywhere after the Mina tragedy that left 769 dead so far (As per Saudi official death toll) during the ‘stoning of the Satan’ ritual on September 24.
“From our part, there is no lack of management, our aircraft are ready at the Jeddah Airport to ferry our pilgrims, but the hajjis are taking long time to report at the airport, she said adding “as our Hajj flights are dedicated, we can’t fly leaving our pilgrims at Jeddah,” she said.
Tasmin said it is a normal phenomenon of delaying hajj flights on the first few days every year due to massive pressure of pilgrims but this year, Hajj flights take more time than the previous years.
“Not only Biman, the flights of other airlines including Saudi Arabian Airlines are also being delayed to fly from the hajj terminal of Jeddah Airport due to the massive pressure of huge number of hajjis in this unusual situation,” she said.
The Biman official hoped that the flight schedule will be normal within two or three days. “After couple of days, we would get back to schedule as numbers of pilgrims will reduce,” she said.
Yesterday Biman operated its three Jeddah-Dhaka dedicated hajj flights but all were delayed than their scheduled time. “One flight has already arrived at 9.20 yesterday morning and other two are scheduled to be landed before midnight,” she said.
The first return hajj flight of Biman arrived at 8.30 last night that was scheduled to be landed at 9.20 am.
The national flag carrier will carry 54,845 out of the total 1,07,290 pilgrims by operating 140 Dhaka-Jeddah flights including 109 dedicated and 31 scheduled.
The rest of the hajj pilgrims will return home by the aircraft of Saudi Arabian Airlines. Earlier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines ferried 54,845 Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia through operating 152 Dhaka-Jeddah flights from August 16 to September 17. Of the flights, 16 were operated from Chittagong and three from Sylhet.
The return hajj flights from Jeddah are being delayed as the Saudi authorities have taken special security measures and also for the gridlock from Makkah to Jeddah due to the Mina tragedy, Biman Officials said yesterday.
“An unusual situation is prevailing in Mina and elsewhere surrounding Makkah after the tragic stamped…the traffic
congestion is still there and for that, it took long time for pilgrims to reach the Hajj terminal at Jeddah Airport,” Biman’s Deputy Manager of Public relations Tasmin Akhtar told BSS.
Besides, she said, the Saudi authorities have taken special security measures everywhere after the Mina tragedy that left 769 dead so far (As per Saudi official death toll) during the ‘stoning of the Satan’ ritual on September 24.
“From our part, there is no lack of management, our aircraft are ready at the Jeddah Airport to ferry our pilgrims, but the hajjis are taking long time to report at the airport, she said adding “as our Hajj flights are dedicated, we can’t fly leaving our pilgrims at Jeddah,” she said.
Tasmin said it is a normal phenomenon of delaying hajj flights on the first few days every year due to massive pressure of pilgrims but this year, Hajj flights take more time than the previous years.
“Not only Biman, the flights of other airlines including Saudi Arabian Airlines are also being delayed to fly from the hajj terminal of Jeddah Airport due to the massive pressure of huge number of hajjis in this unusual situation,” she said.
The Biman official hoped that the flight schedule will be normal within two or three days. “After couple of days, we would get back to schedule as numbers of pilgrims will reduce,” she said.
Yesterday Biman operated its three Jeddah-Dhaka dedicated hajj flights but all were delayed than their scheduled time. “One flight has already arrived at 9.20 yesterday morning and other two are scheduled to be landed before midnight,” she said.
The first return hajj flight of Biman arrived at 8.30 last night that was scheduled to be landed at 9.20 am.
The national flag carrier will carry 54,845 out of the total 1,07,290 pilgrims by operating 140 Dhaka-Jeddah flights including 109 dedicated and 31 scheduled.
The rest of the hajj pilgrims will return home by the aircraft of Saudi Arabian Airlines. Earlier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines ferried 54,845 Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia through operating 152 Dhaka-Jeddah flights from August 16 to September 17. Of the flights, 16 were operated from Chittagong and three from Sylhet.
