Air India facilitates Haj pilgrims from Bangalore

Bangalore, Nov 17 (UNI) Air India will be providing ground handling facilities for chartered flights carrying Haj pilgrims from here to Jeddah.

Karnataka Home Minster V S Acharya flagged off the first flight of the season at the Bengaluru International Airport today.

The Saudia flight SV 5143 operated by the wide-bodied Airbus A-300 will be carrying the first batch of around 300 pilgrims to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, an Air India release said.

Air India has made elaborate arrangements at the Haj camp in Idgah maidan in the city for the convenience of the pilgrims.

Pilgrims can comfortably complete their check-in formalities and hand over their baggage to Air India officials posted at the camp.

The check-in counters will be kept open for longer duration to enable individual attention and avoidance of rush.

This year 23 Haj charters will be operated from Bangalore to Jeddah starting from today. Outbound flights will be operated till Dec 29. To facilitate their return, equal number of flights will be operated beginning December 31, the release said.

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