INA - BAGHDAD

Iraq announced on Thursday launching an urgent plan to dispatch pilgrims from Baghdad International Airport to the Holy Lands of Mecca and vice versa.

"A special operations room was formed for the process of dispatching pilgrims, under our supervision and follow-up," said the Minister of Transport, Razzaq Al-Saadawi, in a statement - received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA. 

He stressed that the Iraqi Airways Company has begun implementing its flights to transport and dispatch pilgrims from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Iraq. "The transportation mechanism is implemented at a rate of four flights per day."

"Modern Dreamliner aircraft, as well as Boeing 737 and Triple Seven aircraft, have been allocated in this plan. 2,000 passengers have been transported by air during the last three days, around 600 to 800 passengers per day in maximum."

Al-Saadawi explained that "the process of sending pilgrims from the Holy Land to Iraq will end on September 24th," indicating that "Iraqi Airways continues to provide services. It is committed to its flight timings within specific schedules."