Haab wants a third airline for hassle-free hajj trips

The Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (Haab) yesterday urged the government to allow a third airline alongside Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Saudi Arabian Airlines this year so that hajj travellers could avoid sufferings as in the previous year.
The government has announced that each of the two airlines will carry 50 percent of a total of 1,27,198 pilgrims this year, but Saudi Arabian Airlines cannot ferry more than 35,000 to 40,000, said Haab President Md Ibrahim Bahar.
So a third airline will help pilgrims perform the hajj properly in a short period, he told a press conference at Jatiya Press Club in the capital.
The press conference was organised to brief the media about the three-day 6th Hajj and Omrah Fair 2013, which will begin at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre on Thursday. People can avail hajj information in the event.
Last year several thousand regular passengers of Biman endured immense sufferings after their flights were cancelled, as Biman airliners were used for ferrying the hajj passengers at that period due to aircraft shortage. A total of 1,09,660 performed hajj last year.
This year the hajj agencies will charge pilgrims a minimum of Tk 2,78,742 for general package and Tk 3,45,000 for a second package. The hajj fees will have to be deposited in the agencies' accounts by May 30.
This year's hajj will take place on October 14 (subject to sighting of the moon).