4 more Biman Bangladesh Hajj flights cancelled for lack of passengers

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has been forced to cancel four more Hajj flights due to shortage of Hajj pilgrims.

The Hajj flights were scheduled to fly for Saudi Arabia at 1:30pm today and 4:50am, 8:55am and 11:45am tomorrow, Biman Bangladesh Airlines General Manager (public relations) Shakil Meraj told The Daily Star.

Read More: Hajj flights begin today

All four Hajj flights had 419 seats, the general manager said.

However, three other Hajj flights will fly to Jeddah on time today, he added.

Mahbubur Rahman, public relations officer of Civil Aviation Ministry, said due to irresponsibility of private Hajj tour operators, Biman was compelled to cancel the flights as the Hajj agencies failed to collect visas and air tickets for the pilgrims.

“Every year they do the same bad practice to make their fortune,” he added.

Earlier on Saturday and Sunday, Biman also cancelled three hajj flights having the capacity of 1,227 seats due to the same reasons.

As many as 127,198 pilgrims from Bangladesh are set to perform the annual ritual this year. Biman and Saudi Arabian Airlines would carry equal number of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

The maiden pre-hajj flight started on July 24. The last date of pre-hajj flight is August 26.

Hajj, the largest religious congregation of the Muslims, and Eid-ul-Azha are likely to be held in early September.