By IANS,
Srinagar : After a gap of four years, Haj pilgrims will be able to take direct Air India flights from here to Jeddah this year.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told a meeting of the state Haj Committee in summer capital Srinagar that Air India has decided to operate direct flights from Srinagar to Jeddah, relieving pilgrims of the burden of changing aircraft at New Delhi.
The first Haj flight will leave Srinagar Sep 17. Each flight will carry 270 pilgrims.
This year a record 9,170 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir would be performing the Haj as the quota for the state had been increased from last year’s 8,441 to 8,670, the highest in the last four years.
In addition to the official quota, private operators are facilitating the travel of over 500 pilgrims this year.