Hajj travel prompts UAE airlines to increase flights to Saudi Arabia

Etihad has added 16 extra services to Jeddah and Madinah until August 28

Muslim pilgrims pass around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Makkah on September 3 during last year's annual Hajj pilgrimage. AFP

An Iraqi pilgrim shows his passport and ticket to Mecca as he wait for his flight at the airport in Najaf on July 31, 2018, prior to the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah. AFP / Haidar Hamdani

An Iraqi pilgrim shows his passport and ticket to Mecca as he waits for his flight at the airport in Najaf in southern-central Iraq on July 31, 2018, prior to the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah. AFP

An Iraqi pilgrim arrives at the airport in Najaf on July 31, 2018, before his flight to go attending the annual Hajj pilgrimage. AFP

Relatives wait for the Hajj pilgrims to take off for the annual hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah at the airport in Ahmedabad, India. Reuters

Hajj pilgrims take a selfie before leaving for the annual hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah, at the airport in Ahmedabad, India, August 1, 2018. Reuters

Indian relatives wave as Hajj pilgrims board an Airbus A330 flight bound for Saudi Arabia, at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on August 1, 2018. AFP

Palestinian Muslim pilgrims arrive at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip, on August 4, 2018, ahead of their departure to the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Makkah. AFP

Palestinian Muslim pilgrims pray as they arrive at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip, on August 4, 2018, ahead of their departure to the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Makkah. AFP

Muslim pilgrims go through passport control upon their arrival at Jeddah airport in the Saudi capital on July 14,2018, prior to the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah. AFP

Pakistani pilgrims attend briefing session at Hajj Complex in preparation to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018 in Islamabad, Pakistan. A total of 185,000 Pakistanis will be performing the pilgrimage this year. In order to facilitate the pilgrims, the government of Pakistan makes requisite arrangements, including the set-up of special vaccination camps. AP

Pakistan pilgrims complete their travel documents at Hajj Complex in preparation to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018 in Islamabad, Pakistan. A total of 185,000 Pakistanis will be performing the pilgrimage this year. AP

Hajj pilgrims are on the move this week, and in response to the increased demand Etihad has added 16 more flights to Jeddah and Madinah this Hajj season.

Emirates has also added extra flights to cater to Hajj demand, with 33 additional services to Jeddah and Madinah running until August 31.

Etihad says most inbound passengers expected to travel on to Hajj are coming from the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Korea and Nigeria.

Emirates has specific Hajj staff in place at Dubai International Airport, and dedicated Hajj staff have also been put in place at Abu Dhabi International Airport, with special Etihad check-in counters set up to handle the movements of pilgrims.

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Etihad says they anticipate a 17 per cent increase in the number of pilgrims travelling with them in 2018 compared to the same period last year.

The additional Etihad Hajj flights will operate until August 28.

Around two million Muslims are expected to converge on Saudi Arabia this week as they descend on Makkah to perform one of the five pillars of Islam.

For many pilgrims, the journey to Makkah is the first time they will leave their countries or board planes. More than half of those performing Hajj visit from low-income countries, and 18 per cent come from conflict-ridden states.