No AI flights for Haj this year, Saudi carriers win bids battle

New Delhi: For the first time ever, Air India may not operate any flights for the Haj this year — it will only be the nodal agency for flights.
While an MoU is yet to be signed between the ministries of Civil Aviation and External Affairs, three Saudi airlines, including Saudi Arabian Airlines and NAS Air, have been selected by a process of “competitive bidding”.
A top Air India official said, “While Air India will be the nodal agency for the over one lakh Indian Haj pilgrims expected to fly to Mecca, due to capacity constraints we are not likely to fly ourselves at all. We will coordinate and do whatever else is required, but we won’t run the service ourselves.”
Sources said that Air India did make an attempt, but was outbid by the three Saudi Arabian airlines. The national carrier now has only a very slim chance of flying from Goa and Mangalore, two of the 19 embarkation points for pilgrims last year.
06/09/10 Seema Chishti/Indian Express

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Categories: Foreign Sep 2010, NACIL Sep 2010