Question : Haj Pilgrims

(a) whether global tender can not be floated for air traveling of Haj pilgrims under an agreement signed between the Government of Saudi Arabia and India; and if so, the facts thereof;

(b) whether also on the contrary to the said agreement, Air India gives sub contract to other smaller airlines at lower rates;

(c) whether the Government is making any effort to start the process of global tender and make amendments in the said agreement to provide affordable air tickets to Haj pilgrims; and

(d) if not, the reasons therefor along with the details thereof?

MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)


(a) The responsibilities for making air travel arrangements for Haj Pilgrims selected by the Haj Committee of India is with the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA). As per inputs received from MoCA, Global tender can not be floated in compliance of General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Saudi Arabia circular dated 15.06.2011, which states that GACA express its regret for not being able to permit third party to participate in the carriage of pilgrims between the two countries. Such traffic is shared equally by the designated or nominated airlines of each contracting party.

(b) No, Madam. In order to ensure that Haj operations are conducted smoothly and without inconvenience to the Haj pilgrims, it was mandated that the airlines will not be allowed to outsource their operation to any third party for onward Haj operations. Since Haj 2015, Air India is operating Haj flights with its own fleet.

(c) & (d) In order to provide affordable air tickets to Haj pilgrims, the Haj aspirants have been given option by the Haj Committee of India for Haj 2018 to choose either their existing embarkation point or the nearest economical embarkation point based on the actual airfare of Haj 2017. The list of embarkation points with options for Haj 2018 is at Annexure.
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