Discussions held on establishing direct Umrah flights from Rasht to Jeddah

The Governor of Gilan has announced that securing direct flights from Rasht to Medina or Jeddah is a primary concern being actively pursued to assist pilgrims.

The Governor of Gilan, emphasising the necessity of addressing the issues and challenges faced by Umrah pilgrims, has announced that the allocation of direct flights from Rasht to Medina or Jeddah is a key concern for the province's pilgrims and will be pursued with urgency.

According to the Gilan Hajj and Pilgrimage Management public relations office, Vahid Eskandari, the Director of Hajj and Pilgrimage, met with the Governor of Gilan, Dr Hadi Haghshenas, on Tuesday afternoon, 25 November. The meeting was attended by the deputy director, the security officer, several managers of pilgrimage offices and agents, as well as the CEO and chairman of the board of the provincial central company of pilgrimage agents.

During the meeting, the Governor expressed his pleasure at the presence of the pilgrimage agents, stating that the government would always stand alongside the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organisation to provide better services to pilgrims. He remarked that the better the services provided by the organisation, the more pleasant the pilgrims' experiences will be, which in turn reduces their anxieties.

Dr Haghshenas identified the unauthorised dispatch of pilgrims as a significant concern for Hajj and Pilgrimage authorities. He stressed that pilgrims must be sent to the holy shrines in an organised and regulated manner to prevent the numerous problems that can arise during travel.

Regarding the provision of financial facilities for pilgrims travelling to the holy shrines, the Governor stated that it must first be determined how many pilgrims will be dispatched annually. Following this, negotiations with relevant banks should be conducted to secure the necessary credit for providing these facilities.

Addressing the potential for direct flights to Iraq from Sardar-e Jangal Airport in Rasht, the Governor noted that negotiations are underway with several Iraqi airlines. He added that if these flights are established, the airlines may also operate several domestic flights, and the matter is being pursued seriously. The Governor also highlighted the need to strengthen the aircraft fleet at Rasht Airport, noting that two aircraft have been added to the fleet so far, with hopes that this number will increase to three soon.

It was noted that, in line with efforts to establish direct flights from Rasht to Jeddah for Umrah pilgrims, the Governor held a telephone discussion with the head of the Civil Aviation Organisation of Iran on the sidelines of the meeting.

Vahid Eskandari, the Director of Hajj and Pilgrimage for Gilan, stated that there are 56 pilgrimage offices and agents in the province. He explained that these offices, in coordination with the provincial central company of pilgrimage agents, are committed to dispatching pilgrims to the holy shrines and facilitating Umrah journeys this year.

Eskandari announced that 630 people were dispatched for the 2024 Hajj Tamattu from the province. He added that it is anticipated that the dispatch of Hajj Tamattu pilgrims in 2025 will follow a similar pattern to 2024, with a capacity of five caravans departing from Sardar-e Jangal Airport in Rasht. According to Eskandari, 256 people have already completed their information in the Hajj and Pilgrimage single-window system for the 2025 Hajj, a figure expected to rise in the coming days.

Regarding the dispatch of pilgrims to Iraq and Saudi Arabia this year, Eskandari stated that 177 caravans, totalling 6,690 people, have travelled by land via the Mehran border to Najaf, Karbala, and Kadhimiya, while 33 caravans, totalling 1,087 people, have travelled by air. Furthermore, with 22 Umrah caravans allocated to the province with a capacity of 2,434, a total of 18 caravans comprising 2,009 people have so far travelled to Saudi Arabia.