Airport gears up to handle Haj pilgrims

Mangalore: Officials of Bajpe airport of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) here are bracing to handle the first batch of Haj pilgrims who will fly to Mecca from this port city next month. Hitherto, Muslims wanting to undertake their Haj pilgrimage had to fly out from Bangalore, an eventuality which did not permit them from donning the `Ihram' in their homes, and which every devout undertaking the Haj aspires for.
V N Chandran, airport director, Bajpe Airport, told The Times of India that the airport will handle the Haj pilgrims in two phases __ one starting from October 17, and the other on November 20. In the first phase lasting up to November 20, the airport will deal with Muslims leaving the city shores for Haj, he said, adding that the second phase ending on January 1, 2010, will see the airport handle the devouts returning after performing Haj.
The airport authorities have already chalked out the strategy to handle the Haj pilgrims both during their departure and arrival. Noting that Air India Express (AIE), the low cost carrier of Indian, the national carrier has been firmed up as the airlines that will ferry the passengers to and fro, Chandran said AIE is in touch with its headquarters awaiting the final clearance. "The Haj flight schedules are being finalized," Chandran added.
29/09/09 Jaideep Shenoy/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Sep 2009, Foreign Sep 2009