- Wizz Air has been praised for significantly reducing the cost of pilgrimage travel by introducing a new direct flight between the UK and Saudi Arabia.
- The budget Hungarian airline announced that it will begin flights from Gatwick Airport to Jeddah on March 31 next year, utilizing the new Airbus A321XLR for the journey.
Jeddah, just an hour’s drive from Mecca, has welcomed over 1.8 million Hajj pilgrims this year, including more than 1.6 million from 22 countries. The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, a mandatory journey for all Muslims who can afford it.
Wizz Air’s new service, with return fares starting just over £200, is expected to enable more of the UK’s four million Muslims to afford the pilgrimage. In comparison, British Airways charges £560 for the lowest return fare, while most other airlines include a stopover and take longer than Wizz Air’s direct six-hour flight.
Shahin Ashraf, head of global advocacy at Islamic Relief, called the Wizz Air fare a “brilliant price,” noting that it will encourage more people to embark on the pilgrimage. “For the price and the time, you will be encouraging more people on pilgrimage,” she said.
Shahin shared her own experience of the pilgrimage, noting how her recent trip involved multiple stops and cost £525, significantly more than Wizz Air’s offering. She added that other airlines charge around £900 for the journey, which many people cannot afford.
Reflecting on the spiritual importance of the pilgrimage, Shahin described her experience in Mecca as grounding and transformative, especially in helping her recalibrate during a stressful time at work. “It’s such a positive experience… I came back much clearer-headed,” she said.
