Hajj flights for the current year are scheduled to commence on April 18.

In preparation, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has directed Hajj agencies and transport airlines to strictly adhere to Saudi government regulations and the "Hajj Package and Guidelines, 2026."

On Sunday (January 11), formal letters were dispatched to Hajj agency owners and the three designated airlines responsible for transporting pilgrims.

Key Guidelines for the 2026 Season

The ministry outlined several critical requirements for the upcoming Hijri 1447/2026 Hajj season:

• Unified Service Groups: Following Saudi directives, all pilgrims under the same service company must be transported to Saudi Arabia on the same flight.
• Phased Deployment: Agencies are required to distribute their total number of pilgrims across the flight schedule. At least 20% of an agency’s pilgrims must be sent during the mid-phase of the pre-Hajj flight window.
• Ticket Allocation Caps: For the initial and final phases of the flight schedule, agencies must send between 30% and 50% of their remaining pilgrims. The ministry explicitly stated that no agency may issue tickets for less than 30% or more than 50% of their pilgrims during these peak periods.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has requested all stakeholders to ensure flight management and ticketing systems are aligned with these specific quotas to ensure a smooth transition for pilgrims.