Biman Bangladesh Airlines will begin its Hajj flights from the first week of September, its Managing Director Kevin Steele has said.
He said all preparation for the Hajj camps had been made.
“The maiden flight this year will be on Sep 7 with a leased Boeing 747 aircraft,” he said on Sunday.
Steele said seats were available for booking. “For the first time, [all the Biman] tickets will be sold through the e-ticketing system,” he said.
A total of three aircraft — the leased Boeing 747 and two of its own Boeing 777 — will be pressed into service.
The national flag carrier has leased another Boeing 767 to maintain its other schedule flights, Steele said.
Biman sources say the last return flight will be on Nov 18. As per an agreement between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, Biman will carry half the pilgrims, while the rest would be flown by the Saudi Arabian Airlines and Nas Airways.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs says 88,911 pilgrims will perform Hajj this year. Biman will operate 92 dedicated flights and 22 regular scheduled flights for the pilgrims’ benefit.
It will carry pilgrims from Chittagong and Sylhet like it did last year. – bdnews24.com
