Hajj 2022: Emirates Increases flights to Meet Demand, Unveils Extra Services
As air travel demand rises over Hajj 2022, Emirates is deploying extra flights to ensure more connectivity for the scores of pilgrims making their way to the Holy City of Makkah.
Hajj 2022 will begin in the evening of
Thursday, 7 July and ends in the evening of
Tuesday, 12 July.
During the period, Emirates will be operating special flights to Jeddah and Medina to carry pilgrims for the special ceremony.
The airline will be deploying 31 additional flights to Jeddah and double daily flights to Medina from 23 June to 20 July to boost services for Hajj 2022. These services will run in parallel with Emirates’ regularly scheduled services.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has greatly expanded Hajj 2022 participation to nearly a million pilgrims. This year, Emirates has seen strong demand for Hajj travel from Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Turkey, Egypt, Ethiopia, Malaysia, the UK, US, UAE and Algeria.
Special services are available to travellers holding a valid Hajj 2022 visa. Pilgrims must also be under the age of 65, hold a valid vaccination certificate with a vaccine authorised by the Saudi Ministry of Health, and must also carry a negative PCR test done within 72 hours of departure.
Emirates has also set up dedicated check-in and transfer counters for Hajj 2022 passengers transiting in Dubai. For Hajj travellers having a longer layover in Dubai before continuing on to Jeddah or Medina, dedicated teams are on hand to escort those groups and support them on all of their arrival formalities.
Extra provisions to accommodate Hajj traveller needs such as ablution cleansing rituals, unperfumed towels, advising passengers while en route to Jeddah about when they have entered Al Miqat zones (state of sanctity) and changing of Ihram robes through special PAs, and other arrangements have been planned to ease their journey and ready them for the rest of their pilgrimage.
On flights from Jeddah, passengers can check-in up to 5 litres of holy water (Zamzam), which will be placed in special areas in the cargo hold.