Direct Haj flights from Ozar airport on the cards
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Tuesday, June 19, 2018
NASHIK: The private airline, Jet Airways, has firmed up its plans to start special flights from Nashik to Jeddah for the Haj pilgrims of Nashik and its adjoining districts. The airline is in touch with Union external affairs ministry to provide immigration facilities for Haj pilgrims at Ozar Airport in Nashik. A senior functionary of the airline confirmed to TOI that that plans are afoot to stat special flights from Nashik for the benefit of the Haj pilgrims of the region. “We are already in talks with the members of the Haj committee and also some travel agents. We are also working on getting approval for providing immigration facilities at Ozar airport,” added that Jet Airways functionary. Haj is an annual pilgrimage that many Muslims undertake and travel to Mecca, regarded as the holiest city in the religion of Islam. Last year, a key ritual of the Haj – Wuqoof e Arafat’ was on August 31. This year, the key ritual Wuqoof e Arafat is likely to be held on August 19 or 20. At present Haj pilgrims from at least five districts—Nashik, Ahmednagar, Dhule , Jalgaon and Ahmednagar—have to take flights from Mumbai to travel to Jeddah. According to some travel agents around 10,000 pilgrims from these five districts, including at least 4000 from Nashik, go for Haj every year. Jet Airways has already launched thrice-a-week Delhi-Nashik return flights from the June 15 under Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS). A Nashik based well-known exporter of the region Sajid Sayeed said that the plans of Jet Airways to start special flights from Ozar Airport in Nashik would be boon for the Haj pilgrims of the region. “Haj pilgrims of region have to take flights either from Mumbai or Aurangabad for their pilgrimage. If Jet Airways starts a direct flight from Nashik it will definitely be a huge benefit for the Haj pilgrims. The airline will certainly get good response,” added Sayyed. “Pilgrims travel to Mecca for Haj and Umrah. Haj is performed during select months, while Umrah can be performed any time throughout the year. Around 3,000 pilgrims from the region travel to Mecca per month on an average. The special flight will give a relief to pilgrims as theymay travel directly from Nashik to Jeddah instead o fgoing to Mumbai,” said travel agent Autubuddin Pathan.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nashik/direct-haj-flights-from-ozar-airport-on-the-cards/articleshow/64633334.cms
