FOR THE NEXT five years, Ramadan falls in the summer season, requiring airlines to help passengers with their special travel needs. Many Arab airlines announced a number of enhancements within their in-flight services. These included special menus onboard, lunch boxes at airports and special prices. For flights departing close to Iftar, some airlines, such as the national carrier EgyptAir and Emirates Airlines provide small snack boxes at the boarding gates. As is the case every year, the boxes contain oriental deserts, water and dates. As for fasting passengers who happen to fly before Iftar, the pilot makes an immediate announcement to notify passengers as soon as the sun sets while flying. Onboard, large specially prepared Iftar meal boxes are served with an assortment of traditional Arabic delicacies including a hot chicken shawarma, crudités, Arabic bread, pistachio maamoul, dates, water and a milk drink. Iftar meals served in economy class are the same as those served in both business and first class. The national carrier EgyptAir has decided to change policy during Ramadan. Last year the carrier refused to make special offers to fasting passengers but justified the act as its operating schedules did not include departing flights close to sunset. This year, the carrier came out with more attractions for fasting passengers. "We have joined the Tourism Authority programme prepared specially for the holy month of Ramadan," stated Alaa Ashour, EgyptAir Airline chairman. "The programme is titled Visit Egypt in Ramadan, which includes several offers and packages to travellers and vacation makers who seek to spend part of their vacation in Egypt during Ramadan." According to Ashour, special packages are offered on Arab routes in order to encourage Arab tourists not to suspend their summer plans in Egypt. On board flights to Arab destinations, the crew's uniform is labelled with the campaign slogan. Special meals are offered to passengers, even on board flights that operate after sunrise, allowing passengers to take them to eat later. "Even when operating abroad, if it happens that a flight takes off at Iftar time, flight attendants have clear instrictions to start serving the meal first and delay all other services such as distributing newspapers, pillows and blankets," he commented. According to Mustafa Al-Gammal, chairman of the airline's in-flight services, more than 25,000 meals are served for Iftar on EgyptAir flights in Ramadan. Another 1000 meals are served by his company on flights operated by other airlines. "More than 2500 meals are served for our staff who are on duty during sunset. Emirates airlines released a number of procedures to look after its customers. These included modifying some services to suit the needs of Muslim passengers. Timetables for departures and arrivals have been modified for the flights between Egypt and UAE. All arrivals during Ramadan are scheduled one hour at least before sunset. The airline on the other hand launched special offers from Dubai to 20 destinations in the Middle East and Far East. Very low prices are offered on both economy and business class tickets provided the tickets are used before 31 August. The low cost carrier flydubai has launched a unique offer. Passengers who book their flights by the end of July and fly between 15 August and 6 September will get their money back in the form of a voucher valid to be used on any flydubai route before 8 December 2010. A major business for airlines that flourishes in Ramadan is organising Omrah flights to the holy sites in Mecca and Al-Madinah. There are more than 130,000 Egyptian Omrah pilgrims this Ramadan, Last year due to the fear of the H1N1 flu virus, the national carrier had a record loss of LE65 million due to restrictions imposed by the government which banned very young and elderly people from going on Omrah trips. This year, those who missed the opportunity to conduct the Omrah rushed to book for the holy trip. According to Ashour, the carrier increased the operation to Jeddah to 14 flights daily in order to transfer more than 2500 passengers per day. "We have hired two B767-300 aircraft to help the fleet increase operations which we expect to hit 20 flights daily to Jeddah," explained Ashour. Five months ago, Saudi authorities suspended EgyptAir from flying to Al-Madinah until the Egyptian authorities allowed low cost Saudi carriers to fly to Cairo International Airport. Egyptian pilgrims travelled from Jeddah to Al-Madinah by bus. Saudi Airlines increased operations to Cairo International to 10 flights daily to transfer Egyptian Omrah pilgrims, Saudi residents in Egypt who want to spend Ramadan with their families, and Palestinian pilgrims who reach the holy sites through Egyptian airports.
