Dhaka: The Hajj flights from Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia are set to begin on April 18, as announced by the Religious Affairs Ministry. All agencies involved in the pilgrimage and airlines have been instructed to adhere to the Saudi government’s directives and the newly established Hajj Package and Guidelines for 2026.

According to United News of Bangladesh, the ministry has communicated with Hajj agency owners and the three airlines tasked with transporting pilgrims, detailing the necessary instructions. The flights for the Hajj 1447 Hijri, which corresponds to the year 2026, are scheduled to start operations from April 18. The pilgrimage itself is expected to take place on May 26.

In compliance with Saudi government directives, it has been mandated that pilgrims associated with the same service company must travel to Saudi Arabia on the same flight. Furthermore, under the Hajj Package and Guidelines 2026, agencies are required to transport at least 20 percent of their total pilgrims during the middle phase of the pre-Hajj flight schedule. The remaining pilgrims are to be transported during the first and last phases, with allocations ranging between 30 to 50 percent for each phase.

Agencies will not be permitted to issue less than 30 percent or more than 50 percent of tickets during either the first or last phases of the pre-Hajj flights. The ministry has urged the relevant agencies and airlines to ensure that pilgrims from the same service company are scheduled on the same flight, and that ticket issuance aligns with the prescribed distribution for the pre-Hajj flight schedule phases.