The Civil Aviation ministry has invited bids from airlines of India and Saudi Arabia to operate Haj charter flights from 21 destinations, including Kochi, Varanasi and Ahmedabad, to Jeddah.
The selected airlines will have to operate services between August 4 and October 20. The government expects that there will 1,00,020 pilgrims to undertake the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
Initial estimates showed that Delhi will have the highest number of 12,500 pilgrims followed by Kolkata (10,500), Lucknow (9,700) and Kochi (9,000). Bengaluru may see 3,550 passengers on such flights while from Mengaluru, there could be 600 pilgrims.
Published 22 February 2016, 19:32 IST