Date:03/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/03/stories/2008080353680400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

HAL airport may be thrown open to facilitate travel for Haj pilgrims

Krishnaprasad

Air India signs agreement with Saudi Airlines to operate flights to Jeddah

5,924 pilgrims will be undertaking the Haj pilgrimage from Karnataka this year
30 special flights likely to be operated
to and from Jeddah

Bangalore: The HAL airport is likely to open its skies to Haj pilgrims in October-November this year as the State Government is keen on operating special Haj flights from this airport.

Sources in the Government and the HAL have pointed out that the authorities are interested in operating the special Haj flights from HAL airport keeping in view the convenience of the pilgrims.

Operation of Haj trip is likely to give a stimulus to the HAL airport, which has been closed to commercial operations since the opening of Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) at Devanahalli.

Age consideration

“We know that the new airport is congested and we do not want the regular air passengers and Haj pilgrims to be inconvenienced by operation of special flights,” said an official.

“As many Haj pilgrims are aged people, it is better for them if the travelling distance to the airport is minimal.”

The officials said the State Government would soon take up the matter with the Union Civil Aviation Ministry seeking its permission to operate special flights from HAL airport.

Officials hopeful

“We are hopeful that the Ministry will permit operation of flights from HAL airport as it does not affect the new airport,” the official said.

Meanwhile, sources in the HAL and the Airport Authority of India (AAI) have said they were prepared to operate special flights from HAL airport for this purpose once the Ministry grants approval.

Only temporary arrangements like deployment of the security, the emigration and the customs officials would have to be made, they pointed out.

The sources in the Government said the HAL and AAI representatives had already declared their “operational readiness” for operating the services.

Special flights

Some 30 special flights (15 in, 15 out) are likely to be operated from Bangalore to Jeddah during this Haj season between October 2008 and January 2009. As many as 5,924 pilgrims, who are selected through a draw amongst the 18,000 Haj pilgrim aspirants, will be able to make the holy trip.

The government sources said that the Air India, which is the official agent for making air travel arrangements for Haj pilgrims from the State, has this time signed an agreement with Saudi Airlines to operate fights for Haj pilgrims from Bangalore instead of operating its own flights unlike in the past.