JEDDAH, 23 November 2006 — For the first time this year Russian pilgrims will be able to fly by air for Haj from Moscow to Jeddah on regular flights operated by the Russian airline Aeroflot beginning Nov. 30.
Akhmed Bilalov, head of the Haj Council in Russia, said that this year 18,000 Russian pilgrims will be visiting Makkah and Madinah. Some 13,500 of them will be from Dagestan while 1,300 will be coming from Chechnya. The flights will stop in Kavkazskiye Mineralnye Vody for the convenience of pilgrims from the North Caucuses. “The stopover in Mineralnye Vody will be made for the convenience of pilgrims,” said Bilalov.
According to Bilalov, measures have been set in order to respond to any potential emergencies on the way, including emergency evacuations. All pilgrims will also be given health insurance coverage.
“Starting this year, Russian Muslims will be insured against accidents and any other major circumstances, including epidemics,” said Bilalov, adding that 30 doctors and eight emergency aid crews will be accompanying the pilgrims on their trip. The pilgrims will also be able to take advantage of a simplified visa regime.
According to the Muslim Board of European Russia, the travel will cost each pilgrim about $2,500.
Damir Gizatullin, deputy head of the board, welcomed the start of direct flights from Moscow to Jeddah as a “remarkable” event for Russian Muslims.
“Russian Muslims were allowed to make the annual pilgrimage five years ago. The number of pilgrims has been growing and they had to travel to the Kingdom by literally hitchhiking,” Gizatullin said.
Aeroflot Director General Valery Okulov said that regular flights to Saudi Arabia have been organized so as to enable pilgrims to go and return from the Haj as comfortably as possible.
“The frequency of flights will vary from four to five times a week. Out of season, flights from Moscow to Jeddah will be made weekly. Aeroflot will give up charter flights that used to take pilgrims to Saudi Arabia in the past,” Okulov said.
In addition to regular Aeroflot flights, other airlines will make charter flights to Saudi Arabia, including Dagestan Airlines. The price of a ticket on charter flights will increase by $300 but safety will also be improved, as an agreement has been reached under which Russian planes will undergo maintenance checks in Jeddah.
In addition, mandatory vaccination expenditures will also increase. Vaccination, which used to be free of charge in the past, now costs from $20 to $25.
However, despite the new direct air service, many pilgrims prefer to use ground transport buses and private cars. But they will have to spend a week longer in Saudi Arabia, waiting for permission to leave. And this will require more room and board expenses.
