5 January 2019
Philippine Low Cost Carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) has been granted authority to fly Filipino pilgrims to Mecca following Philippine consultation with Saudi Arabia on the annual hajj pilgrimage transport.
By tradition Saudi Arabia allows only two airline, Saudia and Philippine Airlines to fly Filipinos to Mecca to perform annual hajj pilgrimage but the policy was changed this year allowing for a third airline to perform similar tasks.
The agreement was reached on January 3 between National Commission on Filipino Muslims (NCMF) Secretary Saidamen Pangarungan and Saudi Deputy Minister for Hajj and Umrah Dr Sharief Housnie in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
Airfare rates of the third company is significantly lower compared to both Saudia and PAL,” according to NCMF official.
The reason for the allowance was the current difficulty of some Filipino Muslim pilgrims, particularly those affected by the Marawi seige, to afford airline tickets offered by the two existing airlines.
Dr Dimapuno Datu Ramos Jr, National Commission on Filipino Muslims (NCMF) director for external relations said that the allowance is valid for 2019 only but may be extended by the Saudi government.
In addition to the entitlement the Saudi government also pledged to accommodate Filipino pilgrims in 5-star hotels accommodation to ease the suffering of the victims of the war in Marawi as they fulfill one of Islam's 5 pillars of faith.
“We can look forward to a better hajj experience for this year,” says Datu Ramos who also attended the meeting in Riyadh.
The 2019 Hajj pilgrimage is scheduled to begin on August 9 this year.
I remember when PAL and SV were the only Hajj flights, PAL had stiff competition with SV because the latter offers superior products and comfortable seats and IFE in 77W. While PAL then was using the monoclass A330s (now configured to tri-class). The entry of 5J will further stiffen competition and they can offer more affordable fares.
ReplyDeleteHajj seats are always full and they are always limited. CEB service will add 400 seats from existing charters allowing more pilgrims to fly. This flight will depart from MNL. This is not bookable so Contact NCMF to avail of this flight. Definitely cheaper.
DeleteCEB caters to a different market segment.
ReplyDeletedavao to madinah or cdo to madinah hajj flight please
ReplyDeleteBook a charter flight dude. This is not an airline company website
Deleteyou forgot must muslim passengers are from mindanao.saudi arabian airlines has seasonal hajj flight from davao to madinah
Delete