Etihad increases flights for Hajj pilgrims

In addition to its regular three flights-per-week Jeddah service, Etihad will offer an extra flight to the city on 27 December and Madinah on 19, 22 and 23 December.

Once Hajj has ended, Etihad will provide three additional flights from Jeddah to Abu Dhabi on 3, 4 and 5 January.

"Etihad is delighted to be offering our Guests additional flights during Hajj, which carries such importance to Muslims across the world," said Geert W. Boven, Vice President Commercial, Etihad Airways.

"As well as carrying UAE-based pilgrims, we also anticipate many Guests will use Etihad's growing international network of destinations to fly into Abu Dhabi, and connect onwards to Jeddah or Madinah."

It is the first occasion the UAE's national airline has offered flights to Jeddah during Hajj following the successful launch of its service in May 2006.

More than two million pilgrims make the journey every year to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is the custodian of the two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah.

The annual journey to Makkah attracts Muslims from across the globe, providing a unique opportunity for pilgrims of all nationalities to gather together at this sacred time.

Makkah is located 73 kilometres inland from Jeddah, with Muslims regarding the al-Masjid al-Haram (The Sacred Mosque) as the holiest place on earth.

Madinah, the second holiest city of Islam, houses the shrine of the Mosque of the Prophet which contains Muhammad's tomb. The first mosque of Islam, the Quba Mosque, is also located in Medinah.

Etihad Airways also offers a non-stop eight flights-per-week service to the Saudi capital Riyadh, and nine flights-per-week to Dammam.