I have now just heard that passengers that were due to depart on this evening flight to Jeddah have been told to go home and await further details.
Business Air have operated the first 2x flights without applying for UK permission and the CAA caught up with them. (With Business Air been a non-EU registered carrier, operations from the UK to any destination other than the country of registry requires prior permission) The Boeing 767-300 aircraft was been chartered by a Saudi agent on behalf of the Bradford based tour operator Sky-Fly Connections, I understand that they were initially informed that all permissions had been obtained by the airline, But it was found that this only to related to the Saudi end and not the UK end.
Jet2 have been asked to help out, but with them not having their own Hajj operations this year they also don't have the approvals, So it looks like a replacement carrier will have to be found at the last minute if one can find a large enough aircraft. Otherwise a lot people will have there once in a life pilgrimage to Mecca cancelled.
It is estimated that 600+ passengers have already been flown to Jeddah on the 2x Leeds flights with 300+ more due to fly out on this evenings service. Another 600+ are booked and expecting to be flown out from Manchester in the next few days as well.
Last edited by LBIA; 2nd Oct 2013 at 23:44.