16,000 Hajj-bound Biman tickets unsold

Biman Bangladesh Airlines yesterday called on Hajj agencies to buy tickets immediately as 16,000 seats still remain unsold, warning that no additional slot will be allotted by Saudi authorities this year.

“All Hajj agents are requested to procure their required tickets immediately to avoid complexity to transport Hajj pilgrims at the last moment,” said a release from Biman.

Last year, the national flag carrier had to cancel 24 scheduled hajj flights, as agencies were reluctant to send pilgrims too early for the Hajj.

According to the release, as of yesterday 45,779 tickets have been issued while, some 16,000 seats are still available for hajj flights between Jul 24 to Aug 10, 2018.

This year, Biman Bangladesh Airlines will transport approximately 63,600 pilgrims between July 14 and Aug 15 by 187 flights, Biman's official sources said. Biman started selling tickets for this year's Hajj flights from May 27, on first-come, first-serve basis.

 “We don't want to leave anyone behind here. We therefore urge all hajj agencies to buy tickets in favour of their registered pilgrims soon,” Biman's General Manager (PR) Shakil Meraj told The Daily Star. He also said the national flag carrier is cautious this time to prevent any kind of complexity in hajj flight operations, as Saudi authorities have already declared they won't be able to provide any additional flights to Biman this year before the Hajj.

Last year, Biman was able to manage additional slots from Saudi authority to operate hajj flights, after a number of hajj flights were cancelled due to scarcity of passengers.