Middle East conflict: Flight cancellations hit Umrah pilgrims from Kerala, hundreds in limbo

KOZHIKODE: The Umrah pilgrimage from the state to Mecca has been severely disrupted following large-scale flight cancellations due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, leaving hundreds of pilgrims in a limbo.Scores of pilgrims who had long planned their spiritual journey saw their departures cancelled, while uncertainty looms over those scheduled to travel in the coming weeks. At the same time, several pilgrims who already reached Saudi Arabia and completed the pilgrimage are reportedly stranded due to return flight disruptions. "The flight cancellations have directly impacted Umrah bookings. Nearly 60% of tickets are usually booked almost a year in advance and payments for hotel accommodation were already made," said an official of a leading travel agency. Industry sources said under normal circumstances, around 150 Umrah pilgrims travel daily from Calicut International Airport. With the mass cancellation of flights, passenger movement came to a near standstill. "There is also a limited time window for Umrah. The last date of arrival for this season is April 2 and pilgrims must return by April 18," said Salil, an official with Akbar Travels. Pilgrims booked for later departures this month are also anxious about uncertainty over outbound and return flights, even if their current tickets are not formally cancelled. Travel agents said postponing Umrah trips could prove difficult with Haj season approaching, as Umrah is not conducted during the period. Haj pilgrimage from state through Haj Committee of India is scheduled to begin on April 30 via Cochin International Airport. Haj flights are set to commence from Kannur Airport on May 5 and from Calicut International Airport on May 15. Sources in the travel industry warned that the developments could have a significant financial impact on Umrah operators, given the scale of advance bookings and the likelihood of increased operational costs if the disruptions persist.