Maiden Haj flight to take off from Karippur Oct 30

Kozhikode, Oct 29 (UNI) Air India's maiden Haj flight with a capacity of 420 passengers will take off from the Karippur International Airport, near here, for the holy city of Medina tomorrow.

Kerala Haj and Local Self Goverance Minister Paloli Mohammed Kutty would flag off the Boeing 747 flight at 1015 hrs, State Haj Committee sources said.

The public sector carrier would fly about 7,208 devotees under the government quota, selected through draw of lot, in 18 sorties to the holy destination in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during this season, the sources said.

Majority of the devotees are from Kerala, Union Territory of Lakshadweep and Mahe, part of UT of Puducherry.

More than 2,000 devotees would be able to make it to the holy city this year under the special quota released by the Central Haj Committee, they said.

Some more allocations were also expected during the season, they added.

UNI PCH GM AKJ HT1717