DUSHANBE, December 17, 2008, Asia-Plus -- The first group of Tajik Hajjis, numbering 360 people, have returned to Dushanbe from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia today afternoon.

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Nazira Davlatova, a spokeswoman for Tajik national air carrier, TajikAir, said that one pilgrim flight is scheduled to arrive daily to Tajikistan during two weeks.

“Ten pilgrim flights will arrive at the Dushanbe airport and four others at the Khujand airport,” Davlatova said, noting that Saudi air company, Ajla Air Co. Ltd, is carrying Tajik pilgrims to Dushanbe, using the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar.

The Saudi air company also operated the pilgrim flights from Tajikistan to Saudi Arabia.  We will recall that 5,200 Tajik Muslim participated in the Hajj this year.