JUST IN: 1st EgyptAir flight in 2019 Hajj season takes off from Cairo airport

An EgyptAir flight, the first in 2019, took off from Cairo airport early Thursday for Saudi Arabia to carry pilgrims to the holy lands.

The Egyptian flag carrier organizes an airlift every year to shuttle pilgrims to the holy lands, where they perform the Hajj rituals.

This year, EgyptAir will be flying 351 flights to Jeddah and Madina to transport 76,000 pilgrims.

Senior EgyptAir officials saw off the first group at Cairo Airport on Thursday and made sure all measures were eased for the pilgrims.

The last Hajj flight to Saudi Arabia is scheduled for August 5.

The first return flight will be on August 14.

Ahramonline