MANAMA: After receiving several complaints from citizens, a Bahraini lawmaker has called on the island’s national carrier to offer affordable fares to Umrah pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia.
“Airlines should consider Bahrainis making religious trips to Saudi Arabia as frequent travelers. This is especially the case considering the close proximity of the two countries. Several families are carefully planning their trip this year due to high costs and limited options in good airfare deals,” said MP Jalal Fairooz.
With the summer holidays nearing, Bahraini families are planning to perform Umrah but are left with limited options as only Saudi Arabian Airlines and a handful of others offer special packages. Fairooz said Gulf Air, Bahrain’s national carrier, was not offering discounted tickets to Umrah pilgrims. “Families are totally dependent on Umrah tour operators who are booking chartered flights for the trip. There should be special discounts offered by airlines to popular religious destinations,” said the MP from Al-Wefaq bloc.
The lawmaker said he received several complaints from frustrated citizens concerning high airfare. Fairooz said most families travel by road through King Fahd Causeway and take domestic flights operated by Saudi carriers from Dammam to Jeddah.
Last year, another Bahraini lawmaker accused the national carrier of increasing fares for Haj travelers while offering promotional packages to European destinations.
