For the first time ever, Air India may not operate any flights for the Haj this year — it will only be the nodal agency for flights.
While an MoU is yet to be signed between the ministries of Civil Aviation and External Affairs, three Saudi airlines, including Saudi Arabian Airlines and NAS Air, have been selected by a process of "competitive bidding".
Haj is the pilgrimage which adult, able and Muslims who can afford it deem as their duty. It involves a journey to Mecca and some other places in Saudi Arabia, and is held on the eve of Eid-ul-Zuha. The flights are likely to start on October 10.
A top Air India official said, "While Air India will be the nodal agency for the over one lakh Indian Haj pilgrims expected to fly to Mecca, due to capacity constraints we are not likely to fly ourselves at all. We will coordinate and do whatever else is required, but we won't run the service ourselves."
Sources said that Air India did make an attempt, but was outbid by the three Saudi Arabian airlines. The national carrier now has only a very slim chance of flying from Goa and Mangalore, two of the 19 embarkation points for pilgrims last year.
Officials said Air India now has only three operational jumbos — down from the 11 last year — two of which are kept for VIP flights. "Even the A-310s used for Haj flights are fewer this year," said an official.
Last year, Air India and two Saudi Airlines operated Haj flights between October 20, 2009 and January 1, 2010.
Saudi Arabia decides the number of pilgrims from each country, and is likely to allow 20,000 more Indians this year. According to External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, some 160,000 Indians are expected to undertake the Haj this year.
Dr S Shakir Husain, CEO of the Mumbai-based Haj Committee, declined to comment on the likely absence of Air India during this Haj. "The Ministry of External Affairs will take a decision, we don't know anything about this," Husain said.
Sources in the Ministry said they were waiting for a political decision on the nature of the MoU on the "sensitive issue".
Competitive bidding will substantially reduce the Haj subsidy. The subsidy has been a sore point over the years: Muslim religious leaders have described it as "un-Islamic" and not a subsidy at all, while those on the other side have decried the "undue largesse" offered to the "pampered minority".
In its reply to an RTI application filed by Mumbai-based activist Attar Azeemi on June 22, 2007, Air India said: "Air India does not have the capacity to operate Haj flights. Therefore, aircraft are leased by AI for carriage of Haj pilgrims."
It added, "There is no benefit to the government of India (in giving) AI and Indian (Airlines) monopoly in operating Haj flights. Allowing private airlines to operate on Haj flights may result in reduction in fares and reduction in burden of subsidy to the government."
However, Muslim leaders like S Q R Ilyas, a member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, have argued that the money flows directly to Air India and not to Muslim pilgrims.
Others feel the money should be diverted to schools and the education of the poor. "Muslims don't need this subsidy. The Haj Committee should be allowed to tender and charter flights to take Hajis back and forth. We don't want Air India to be the sole carrier. We don't get a single free ticket. Air India takes the money from the Centre," said a former Haj Committee member
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