The first Hajj flight carrying 398 pilgrims has departed for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The flight, operated by Saudia Airlines (SV-803), left Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 2:15 AM on Monday (April 28).
According to reports, the Boeing 777-300 aircraft is scheduled to land at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah at 6 AM local time after a flight of approximately seven hours.
In the first 24 hours of Hajj operations, a total of 4,180 pilgrims will travel to Saudi Arabia on 10 flights—eight to Jeddah and two to Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah.
Hajj flights will continue until May 31. Return flights will begin on June 10 after the completion of the Hajj rituals. Depending on the sighting of the moon, Hajj may take place on June 5.
This year, three airlines will operate a total of 232 flights to transport Hajj pilgrims. Biman Bangladesh Airlines will carry 44,307 pilgrims on 118 flights; Saudia will transport 32,740 on 80 flights; and Flynas will carry 13,065 pilgrims on 34 flights.
A total of 87,100 pilgrims from Bangladesh will perform Hajj this year—5,200 under government management and 81,900 through private arrangements.
Earlier on Monday evening, Religious Affairs Adviser A. F. M. Khalid Hossain officially inaugurated the 2025 (Hijri 1446) Hajj flights at the Ashkona Hajj Camp in the capital.
He exchanged greetings with the pilgrims and urged them to follow the laws of Saudi Arabia and refrain from any actions that could tarnish the country's image.
This year, a mobile app named Labbaik, featuring travel and communication tools, has been launched for pilgrims. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus inaugurated the app on Monday. In addition, pilgrims will receive Hajj prepaid cards and roaming-enabled mobile SIMs.
