First batch of pilgrims off
By M K Anwar

A young lad being comforted.

Too much to bear for this boy.

Hugs all-round.

Emotional exchanges at the airport among Bruneian pilgrims.

Waving farewell at the Brunei International Airport yesterday.

The first group of Bruneian haj pilgrims on a RBA flight took off from Brunei International Airport yesterday at 7.15pm. A total of 246 passengers was among the first haj flight this year including three medical officers. Most of the passengers on yesterday's flight were from the different travel agencies who are also offering haj packages.

More than 1,400 Bruneians will be performing their pilgrimage this year and all will be flown by Royal Brunei Airlines which will be operating a total of five flights to Jeddah. Of the five, four are charter services operated on behalf of Darussalam Holdings.

Present at Brunei International Airport to bid the pilgrims a safe journey were RBA's Chairman and Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, Dato Paduka Haji Hazair bin Haji Abdullah together with management and staff of RBA.

Darussalam Holdings' first chartered flight is scheduled to leave on January 10, followed by another three flights on the January 11, 12th and 13th. The return flights from Jeddah are expected to arrive in Brunei from February 8 to 11.

Royal Brunei Airlines will also operate a return charter flight for the Agents Association of Haji and Umrah (PERAHU) to bring the first group of haj pilgrims back to Brunei on February 6. For the convenience and comfort of the passengers, Royal Brunei Airlines has arranged for a special advance check-in service.

Passengers on the Haj flight may check in their baggage from 7pm to 9pm on the day before flight depart. Each pilgrim will also be accorded an additional 10 kg baggage allowance and upon his or her return, the carriages of up to 5-litres of "Zam-Zam" water.

All the haj flights will be using the Royal Brunei's Boeing 767 aircraft with a two-class configuration of 18 in the Business Class and 231 passengers in the Economy Class.

The haj must be performed by all Muslims once in their lifetime. For some in the country, it has become an annual ritual with some also opting to perform the mini haj or umrah.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin