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

A Costly Mistake: Passenger Pays for Fuel After Disruptive Flight

A Western Australian man has learned a costly lesson after his unruly behavior on a flight resulted in the aircraft having to turn back. The passenger was ordered to pay over $5,000 in fuel costs, along with a significant fine, for causing the plane to divert.

The incident occurred in September 2023 when the man, who was not publicly named, became disruptive on a flight from Perth to Sydney. Due to his behavior, the pilot was forced to turn the plane around and return to Perth, which required dumping fuel to land safely.

The passenger pleaded guilty to charges of disorderly behavior and non-compliance with safety instructions. As a result, he was ordered to pay $8,630 to the airline to cover the cost of the wasted fuel and was also fined $6,055. This combined penalty of over $11,000 is a stark reminder of the severe consequences of disruptive behavior on flights.

While this is not a typical punishment, other cases of in-flight misconduct have resulted in hefty fines. One passenger in the United States was fined over $40,000 for a series of offenses, including bringing their own alcohol on board, being intoxicated, attempting to smoke marijuana, and sexually assaulting a flight attendant.

The Australian Federal Police emphasized that disruptive behavior on flights will not be tolerated. They warned that individuals who cause disturbances can face significant financial penalties and legal consequences. The case of the Western Australian passenger serves as a clear message that obeying airline staff and adhering to safety regulations is essential for a smooth and safe flight.