Global Air, a unit of Malaysia's Global Industries Inc Sdn Bhd, has won a US$29.55 million contract to transport some 30,000 of Afghanistan's haj pilgrims, local media reported on Sep. 4.

Afghanistan is the second country to sign such a deal with Global Air after Thailand, the New Straits Times reported.

The work involves transporting the pilgrims from Kabul and Kandahar international airports to Jeddah and Madinah in Saudi Arabia.

Global Air has also initiated negotiations with several Middle Eastern parties to establish direct flights from Dubai into Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, India, Oman and Kuwait by early 2009.

Afghanistan is in the process of outlining a long-term plan to become a systematic hub for Haj and Umrah for countries in the region which include Kyrgystan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The new contract was signed by Afghanistan Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Hamidullah Qaderi and Global Air managing director Zamri Ibrahim in Kabul last week.

The maiden flight from Kabul will be launched on Oct. 31 using two Boeing 747s and one Boeing 767.