On July 12, Malaysia Airlines signed its fifth agreement with Lembaga Tabung Haji to operate Hajj Charter flights between Malaysia and Jeddah and Madinah in Saudi Arabia for the year 2007/2008 or 1428 Hijrah.

YM Tengku Dato' Azmil Zahruddin, Executive Director & Chief Financial Officer, signed on behalf of Malaysia Airlines while Tabung Haji was represented by its Group Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Haji Ismee bin Ismail.

Signing as witnesses were Dato' Dr. Haji Azmi bin Haji Ahmad, Senior General Manager Hajj from Tabung Haji and Captain Haji Nik Ahmad Huzlan Nik Hussain, Malaysia Airlines' Assistant General Manager Hajj & Charter Services.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, YM Tengku Dato' Azmil said, "The Hajj operations are unique, specialised, highly regulated and time critical. With our experience since 1974 in handling the Hajj services, pilgrims can be assured of efficient ground and inflight services."

The national airline will use 2 B747-400 aircraft with a seating capacity of 380 each for three-class flights to and from Jeddah and Madinah. A B777-200 aircraft with a reserved capacity of 200 will also be used.

Malaysia Airlines will operate a total of 56 flights involving 13,000 passengers between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia in two phases. For this new season, Malaysia Airlines will increase its direct services into and out of Madinah to provide pilgrims better travel arrangements and greater convenience and reduced expenditure.

Apart from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Airlines will operate direct flights to and from Penang, Johor Bahru, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu. Malaysia Airlines will also provide seamless connections between KLIA and Malaysian domestic sectors for pilgrims where direct Hajj flights are unavailable.

Among the inflight services provided are personal TV screens, special menu and dedicated audio and video programmes ranging from classical instrumentals and Nasyid selections to Quranic versus during the flight. Home airport delivery of Air Zam Zam will also be arranged by Malaysia Airlines thus relieving the pilgrims the burden of carriage and purchase.

Malaysia Airlines will have a team of dedicated personnel to manage and operate the Hajj flights as this operation has unique regulatory requirements and is highly time critical. This will also enhance Malaysia's reputation of having the best Hajj movement arrangement highly regarded in the Muslim world.

Malaysia Airlines began its first Hajj flight from Kuala Lumpur to Jeddah on April 01, 1974, using leased B707 aircraft. By 1981 due to increased demand, the airline switched to a DC-10 aircraft and in the following year, leased another two B747 aircraft for this service.

Over the last 4 years the national carrier has successfully completed the Hajj operations from 1424 and 1427 Hijrah.