Uzbekistan Airports launches 70-flight program to transport Hajj pilgrims

According to Uzbekistan Airports, the first group of pilgrims left the capital at 15:10 local time on Saturday, marking the start of an extensive flight program organized for the annual religious event.

Under the "Hajj-2026" program, a total of 70 flights will be operated from nine different cities across the country to transport 15,130 pilgrims. Tashkent serves as the primary hub for the operation, with 23 scheduled flights set to carry 5,392 passengers. Significant flight volumes are also being handled by regional airports, including Namangan with 1,890 pilgrims on seven flights, and Andijan and Fergana, which will each operate 10 flights for over 1,700 pilgrims respectively.

Smaller groups are departing from other regional centers, including Bukhara (1,078 pilgrims), Samarkand (900 pilgrims), Termez (882 pilgrims), Karshi (833 pilgrims), and Urgench (720 pilgrims). Uzbekistan Airports confirmed that all flights in the program are operating on a direct route to Medina.

To facilitate the large volume of travelers, pilgrims are arriving at the airports in organized groups. Authorities have streamlined check-in and security procedures, while waiting zones equipped with seating and refreshments have been established to ensure passenger comfort during the pre-flight process.