Airlines

Hajj flights 2023 from India – schedules and updates

The Hajj pilgrimage is a significant religious journey undertaken by millions of Muslims around the world. Each year, Muslims from India eagerly anticipate the opportunity to embark the holy cities of Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. As Hajj 2023 approaches, prospective pilgrims from India are seeking up-to-date information about flight schedules and essential updates to plan their pilgrimage effectively.

In this article, we will provide an overview of the Hajj 2023 flights from India, highlighting the schedules and significant updates.

Emirates to deploy extra flights for the upcoming Hajj season.(Opens in a new browser tab)

In order to transport pilgrims, Air India, Air India Express, and Spicejet will operate special Haj flights. Air India and Air India Express will fly special Haj flights from Jaipur, Chennai, Kozhikode, and Kannur, transporting approximately 19,000 pilgrims. The two carriers will fly about 19,000 pilgrims from the four cities to Jeddah and Medina in Saudi Arabia.

Air India would operate 43 flights from July 3 to August 2, 2023, transporting pilgrims from Jeddah and Medina to Jaipur and Chennai. The number of pilgrims scheduled to fly with Air India from Jaipur is 5871 on 27 flights while 4447 pilgrims will be flown by it from Chennai on 19 flights. Overall, a total of 10318 passengers will be flown by Air India to Saudi Arabia with its Boeing 787 and Airbus 321neo aircraft.

Air India and Air India Express will fly special Haj flights, transporting approximately 19,000 pilgrims(Opens in a new browser tab)

While, Air India Express would use its B737-800 fleet. During the initial phase, it will run 13 flights between Kannur and Jeddah carrying 1873 people and 44 flights carrying 6363 passengers from Kozhikode to Jeddah. Air India Express would operate 57 flights during the initial phase, carrying a total of 8236 people. Air India Express would fly the pilgrims from Medina back to Kozhikode and Kannur during the second phase, which runs from July 13 to August 2, 2023.

On June 7, SpiceJet began flying special flights for the Hajj from of five cities: Bhopal, Gaya, Vijayawada, Aurangabad, and Srinagar. For its Hajj operations, the airline has introduced two wide-body A340 planes. These unique flights to Jeddah will be run by SpiceJet between June 7 and June 22. From July 17 to August 2, return flights from Medina are also planned.

The low-cost airline intends to run 200 special flights carrying nearly 21,000 pilgrims throughout this time.

Related Topics:air india AirIndia express

Airlines

Sanctions & Engine Issues Ground Half of Russia’s A320neo fleet

Russia’s aviation sector, already strained by Western sanctions, faces another setback as nearly half of its Airbus A320neo family aircraft are grounded due to unresolved engine issues.

This development highlights the growing challenges for russia commercial aircraft in maintaining their fleets under the weight of global restrictions and limited access to spare parts.

Out of the 66 Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets in Russia, 34 are now out of service, according to the Kommersant business newspaper. These planes are powered by engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation.

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The engines are affected by a previously identified defect in the metal used for certain parts, prompting accelerated inspections and maintenance.

Sanctions have compounded the issue, blocking the supply of essential components from major manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. Without proper maintenance, experts warn that these aircraft may face decommissioning as early as 2026.

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Airlines like S7, which operates a significant portion of these grounded jets, plan to conserve the engines for future use during peak travel seasons. However, reports suggest that over 20 of S7’s Airbus planes have engines that have already reached the end of their operational lifespan. Recently, russia seeks assistance from kazakhstan’s airlines to bolster its domestic flights.

While some A320neo and A321neo planes in Russia are equipped with French-made LEAP engines, which are seen as less problematic, the challenges remain daunting.

The situation underscores the long-term impact of sanctions on Russia’s aviation sector and the increasing difficulties in keeping its modern fleets operational.