Qatar Airways and Saudia Airlines to aid stranded pilgrims

Airline Industry Information, Feb 5, 2002

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2002 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Qatar Airways and Saudia Airlines will offer transportation to hajj pilgrims who purchased tickets from Air Bangladesh.

Air Bangladesh sold tickets to more than 7,000 pilgrims, but failed to operate a single flight until 3 February. The airline, which was scheduled to start its hajj flights on 27 January, claims the delay was due to the fact that its charted aircraft - with a capacity of 360 passengers - had to await approval from the government to fly to Jeddah. Air Bangladesh's permission to fly was reportedly written in Arabic and had to be sent to the Saudi Embassy in Dhaka for official translation.

Qatar Airways will reportedly provide the pilgrims with one hajj flight per day, reported The Associated Press.

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