Some 450 Nigerien representing the first convoy of pilgrims, left Niamey early Monday for Saudi Arabia on board a Boeing of Alwafeer airline chattered by Nigerien company, Sahel Airlines.
Some 9,070 pilgrims out of the 9,500 allowed by Saudi Arabia registered this year in different travel agencies, Religious Affairs minister Hamouda Ben Salah said.
The fare for the pilgrimage dropped from CFA 1,029,000 to CFA 855,000, sources closed to the Transports and Civil Aviation ministry said.
Jordan Aviation and Al Waffer international airlines put at the disposal of Nigeriens pilgrims respectively four 266-290-seat planes and three 480-seats planes.
The direct flights routes will be Niamey-Medina outward trip and Djeddah-Niamey on the return ; they said adding that the two airlines scheduled replacement planes to ensure a continuous transport operation.
Source African Press Agency
loading...
