Wednesday, June 26, 2024
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Upon completing the initial phase, Amal by Malaysia Airlines, the designated Hajj and Umrah arm of the carrier, is set to begin returning up to 15,800 pilgrims to Malaysia starting on June 24, 2024. This return phase, involving flights from Jeddah and Madinah, will wrap up by July 20, 2024.
About half of the pilgrims from Malaysia will be transported in phases from both King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) and Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Madinah International Airport (MED) to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1 (KUL).
“We celebrate the pilgrims’ successful completion of their Hajj. It’s our honor to continue serving as the national airline and the trusted partner of Lembaga Tabung Haji (LTH) in facilitating these important journeys, emphasizing their safety and comfort at every stage,” remarked Muhammad Najmi Mansor, Chief Operations Officer of Amal by Malaysia Airlines.
Amal distinguishes its in-flight services with unique offerings such as inflight entertainment system (IFE) announcements that include talbiah and miqat for the initial leg of the journey. Onboard, passengers can also engage with the call to prayer (azan) and sermon (tazkirah) throughout their travels.
To maximize passenger comfort and operational efficiency, Amal plans to conduct up to 55 flights using the A330-300 aircraft, which offers a spacious 284-seat layout, during the second phase.
For enhanced connectivity, Amal will also schedule 71 feeder flights using the B737-800 aircraft to various destinations from KL International Airport (KUL), including Alor Star (AOR), Penang (PEN), Johor Bahru (JHB), Kota Bahru (KBR), Kuala Terengganu (TGG), Kuching (KCH), and Kota Kinabalu (BKI).
This year is particularly notable as Amal undertakes its first operation of ferrying a group of Singaporean pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Hajj, alongside other international pilgrims from countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, and Cambodia.
Amal and LTH have strengthened their partnership over the years, achieving significant milestones such as the successful Makkah Route initiative, which streamlines the pre-departure and arrival processes in Saudi Arabia, and various cost-saving workshops aimed at curbing the rising costs of Hajj.
Moreover, LTH and Amal have improved services at Movenpick and seven domestic LTH complexes, enhancing boarding areas for optimal pilgrim comfort. This strong partnership has also led to notable enhancements in system and back-end operations, including flight reservations and check-ins, boosting productivity and efficiency for both organizations.