The Biman Bangladesh Airlines yesterday started hajj flight operation, but around 11,000 seats remain unsold, creating uncertainty over performing of hajj by many pilgrims.

Biman officials warned that if the hajj agencies did not buy tickets immediately, some of the intended pilgrims would face problems in flying to Saudi Arabia to perform the holy annual ritual of the Muslims.

The national flag carrier yesterday urgently called upon the hajj agencies to buy tickets and warned that no additional slots would be allotted by the Saudi authorities this year.

“We are once again urging all the hajj agents to procure the remaining unsold tickets immediately to avoid complexity to transport the pilgrims at the last moment,” Biman General Manager (public relations) Shakil Meraj told The Daily Star.

Last year, Biman had to cancel 24 scheduled hajj flights, as the agencies were reluctant to send the pilgrims too early to Saudi Arabia causing untold sufferings to several thousand pilgrims and huge loss to the national airliners.

Around 90 intended pilgrims could not fly to Saudi Arabia last year despite completing all formalities thanks to irresponsibility and fraudulence of three hajj agencies.

“This year, the intended pilgrims might face more uncertainty if the travel agencies do not buy tickets in time as the Saudi authorities have informed us that they would not give any additional slots to operate hajj flights in case of cancellation of any pre-scheduled hajj flights,” Shakil Meraj said.

Biman on May 27 started selling tickets for this year's hajj flights on a first-come, first-served basis.

Meraj said, “We don't want to leave anyone behind. So, we urge all the hajj agencies to buy tickets in favour of their registered pilgrims as soon as possible.”

With yesterday's maiden hajj flight, Biman has kicked off its month-long pre-hajj flight operation.

Biman also operated three more hajj flights yesterday carrying more than 1,100 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, insiders said.

The maiden hajj flight of Boeing 777-300ER aircraft took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 8:00am with 419 pilgrims. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister AKM Shahjahan Kamal and Religious Affairs Minister Matiur Rahman were present at the airport.

The national flag carrier would operate 187 pre-hajj flights (155 dedicated and 32 scheduled) until August 15 and 172 post-hajj flights (143 dedicated and 29 scheduled) from August 27 to September 25, officials said.

It would also operate nine and three hajj flights from Chittagong and Sylhet respectively.

Biman would carry 63,599 pilgrims, half of the total 127,198 pilgrims this year.The Saudi Arabian Airlines would carry the rest.

Talking to reporters, the civil aviation minister said, “We have made all-out preparations to ensure sound hajj flights and taken necessary measures to check any sort of harassment to the pilgrims.”