The first group of Egyptian pilgrims of this year, 2023, boarding the plane to Saudi Arabia- press photoCAIRO – 8 July 2023: Egypt's flagship carrier (EgyptAir) operated 21 flights, on Saturday, to transport Muslim pilgrims from Saudi Arabia to the homeland. The company announced in a statement that 8 flights from Jeddah and 9 flights from Medina to the Cairo International Airport, in addition to two flights from Jeddah to Alexandria’s Burj Al Arab Airport, and two other flights from Jeddah to Bamako in Mali. EgyptAir started its air bridge for the return of the pilgrims from Saudi Arabia after performing the rituals of Hajj [the pilgrimage], on July 1. The Hajj ritual ends with the celebration of Eid Al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifices), which is the most significant feast for Muslims worldwide. The Adha honors the day when Prophet Ibrahim -peace be upon him- was ordered to sacrifice his son, Ismael, and because of his obedience, God substituted Ismael with a ram, and this day has become a feast for Muslims since that day.
