Damascus, May 12 (SANA) Syrian Air resumed Hajj flights on Tuesday for the first time in years, operating a flight carrying Syrian pilgrims from Damascus International Airport to Medina in Saudi Arabia.
The flight marked the return of the national carrier to transporting Syrian pilgrims to the holy sites following years of suspension. It carried 133 pilgrims traveling to Medina before continuing to Mecca to perform Hajj rituals.
Anwar Aqqad, chief executive of the Syrian Aviation Holding Company, said the flight was the first operated by Syrian Air during the current Hajj season.
Speaking to SANA, Aqqad said technical and operational teams had completed preparations for the pilgrimage season, including aircraft readiness and operational procedures focused on safety and security standards.
He said Syrian Air planned to operate additional Hajj flights from Damascus and Aleppo airports based on the number of registered pilgrims.
Aqqad added that the company was coordinating with Syria’s Hajj and Umrah authorities and Saudi officials and was seeking to increase the number of pilgrims transported by the national carrier in coming years.
The launch of the Syrian Air flight follows the departure on Saturday of the first Syrian pilgrims flight of the season operated by a private carriers from Damascus International Airport to Jeddah carrying 340 pilgrims.
R A H / ABD
