Hajj pilgrims at Yangon International Airport last week.

YANGON-BASED Gulf Travels & Tours Company last week began the first of six Hajj pilgrimage charter flights to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

U Ko Ko Latt, the managing director of Gulf Travels & Tours Company, told The Myanmar Times on November 10 the company had leased six aircraft from Pakistan International Airlines so it could offer the temporary charter service between Yangon and Jeddah.

“We have hired two 747-300 planes, two Airbus 310s and two Boeing 777 planes for the Hajj pilgrimages,” he said.

“We have over 2000 Hajj pilgrims for the six charter flights,” he added.
The first flight departed Yangon on November 10, with subsequent services to Jeddah on November 11, 13, 15, 16 and 17. Three flights leave Yangon at 3pm and arrive in Jeddah at 11:10pm, while the other three depart Yangon at 11:55am and arrive in Saudi Arabia at 8:20pm.

“For the Yangon-Jeddah flights there is a one-hour stopover in Karachi in Pakistan,” U Ko Ko Latt said. “The return flights on December 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 will depart Matina in Saudi Arabia at 4:20pm local time and land in Yangon at 5:10am the following day, that’s also local time.”

Roundtrip airfare is FEC 1376, including fuel surcharge and airport tax. Tickets are issued by Gulf Travels & Tours Company, a ticketing agency of Pakistan International Airlines.

U Ko Ko Latt said the value of direct services was illustrated last year, when the lack of direct flights meant most Hajj pilgrims from Myanmar had to transfer in Bangkok on their way to Saudi Arabia. When protesters stormed Bangkok’s Suvanabhumi Airport in late November, cancelling services for more than a week, many pilgrims were left stranded.

“These direct charter flights between Yangon and Jeddah make it more convenient for Hajj pilgrims from Myanmar,” he said. “The charter services would help them to avoid wasting time and having to transfer in Bangkok.”