India's first women-only Hajj flight travels 4,000 km; ferries 145 pilgrims from Kerala to Jeddah

India's firstwomen-only Hajj flight took off from Calicut International Airport in the southern state of Keralaon Thursday. As per an ANI news agency report, the flight was flagged off by the Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs John Barla.

The minister performed the symbolic flag-off ceremony and distributedthe boarding passes for the first flight.

Why is this news?

The flight is monumental because it is the first time that a women-only Hajj flight was organised in the state. The whole crew, from the pilot to the flight attendants, are women.

The Air India Expressflight, IX 3025, took off from Karipur, Kerala at 6:45 am local time (1:15 am GMT) on Thursday with 145 women pilgrims and six female crew members. It landed in Jeddah at 10:45 pm local time (7:45 pm) where they were welcomed by the Consulate General of India.

Another thing that makes this flight assume more importanceis the fact that none of the women pilgrims is accompanied by a 'Mahram' or a male companion.

The flight was truly women-only, in addition to the 145 female pilgrims on board, women managed every aspect of this unique trip, from the pilot and crew to dispatch, flight operation, loading, cleaning, engineering,ground service, and other related activities.

A 'glorious' step towards women empowerment

As per Union Minister Barla, the pioneer flight marked a glorious step for women's empowerment in India. He also reportedly requested the pilgrims to pray for the country's safety, security and progress.

The Air India Express flight left Karipur at 6:45 pmcarrying 145 women pilgrims and six women crew, marking the first such flight from Kerala for women pilgrims without Mahram or a male companion. Barla said that the women-only flight marked a glorious step for women's empowerment in the country.

The minister expressed happiness over the arrangements being made for the pilgrims by the State Hajj Committee.

Was the flight a one-time thing?

As per ANI, 11 such flights have been scheduled till Monday. The flights which are only for women will leave via the Karipur airport. These 11 flights will ferry 1,595 women that belong to the category "ladies without Mahram".

This year, the total number of women belonging to the "ladies without Mahram" category is 2,733. Apart from the 1,595 women that will travel on these women-only flights, the rest will travel via normal flights.

Out of the 2,733 "ladies without Mahram" women, 1718 people will depart via Karipur, 563 via Kochi and 452 via Kannur embarkation points.

(With inputs from agencies)

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