More flights sought for Muslim pilgrims
By Charlie Señase
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 07:53:00 11/01/2008
Filed Under: Religions, Moro, Air Transport
COTABATO CITY, Philippines -- (UPDATE) The Office on Muslim Affairs said Saturday nearly one-fourth of the 4,233 Filipino Muslims planning to go on the annual pilgrimage to Mecca this year may not be able to make it because of the limited number of seats reserved for them by the lone airline servicing the route.
Ali Sangki, OMA executive director, told the Inquirer that Saudi Arabia Airlines, the lone airline servicing the transport needs of Filipino pilgrims, can accommodate only 3,433 pilgrims for the duration of the hajj, which starts on November 11.
"Out of the 13 flights approved by the airline company for the duration of the Islamic journey, only 360 passengers can be accommodated for every Saudia aircraft," Sangki said, adding that only 264 seats on each flight were reserved for Filipino pilgrims. The rest of the seats were for overseas workers returning to their stations in the oil-rich Middle East kingdom.
Sangki said OMA has brought the problem to the attention of the Philippine ambassador to Saudi Arabia and the Saudia management.
"If only all the seats in the 13 approved flights have been given to our pilgrimage-bound passengers, the problem could have been solved already," he said.
The annual pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith.
President Macapagal-Arroyo has been invited for the official send-off of the first batch on November 11 in Manila.
Sangki said he was urging Muslim congressmen and those holding key government positions to help resolve the hajj transport problem.
"A collective appeal to the management of Saudi Airlines may soften its earlier stand by allowing the exclusive use of its 13 flights for our pilgrims," he said.
He said because of the lack of seats to accommodate those going to Mecca, about 800 pilgrims have already been included in the waitlist of passengers.
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