Thai to handle all pilgrimage flights
Thai Airways International will be the sole carrier serving haj pilgrims this year.
THAI was selected yesterday by the committee in charge of promoting the Muslim religious pilgrimage as the only airline to provide direct charters to Saudi Arabia for all domestic Muslim devotees who want to take part in the haj.
The committee's decision was intended to prevent private travel agencies from exploiting the pilgrims.
Going on the pilgrimage was a major headache last year when about 3,000 Muslims failed to apply for visas and many of them were stranded at Songkhla's Hat Yai airport after authorities found their flight tickets were booked with non-licensed airlines.
Some companies secured seats with low-cost airlines and made big profits from charging their customers high prices, despite the government designating THAI as the sole carrier.
THAI will organise two daily flights for pilgrims to Mecca from Hat Yai, Phuket and Krabi from Sept 30 to Oct 15, a statement by the committee said.
Those who want to travel on special flights from Suvarnabhumi will need to form groups of 45 to 49 passengers.
THAI is expected to announce flight schedules and ticket costs next month.
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
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