Wednesday, January 16, 2019

‘Float global tender for airlines to ferry Haj pilgrims’

Mumbai: While welcoming the reduction of GST on Haj travel from 18% to 5%, NGO Haj Seva Samiti president Hafiz Naushad Ahmad Azmi has requested PM Narendra Modi to order a global tendering of airlines for Haj operations.
“While the reduced GST will bring down cost, absence of Haj subsidy may put extra burden on pilgrims. If a global tender for airlines is conducted, more airlines will participate and the cost of airfare may come down,” said Azmi. Currently, Air India and Saudia Airlines, national carriers of India and Saudi Arabia respectively, participate in the tendering for Haj flights.
However, Haj Committee of India CEO M A Khan said according to the bilateral agreement between Indian and Saudi governments, the Saudi authorities make it mandatory for 50% of the pilgrims to be carried by their national airlines. “This leaves little chance for us to invite airlines other than Saudi Arabia’s national carrier and India’s national carrier Air India. We have to follow guidelines of the agreement,” said Khan.
16/01/18 Times of India
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