One aspect that OMA Executive Director Sultan Yahya Tomawis and Sultan Kudarat Gov. Datu Pax Mangudadatu, whom the President designated as "ameerul hajj," discussed was the US$970 two-way plane fare for Manila-Jeddah or Madinah-Manila.
Tomawis wanted the Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) to allow other airlines to carry the pilgrims from the Philippines.
The OMA head and Mangudadatu said the President must tell the Philippine Airlines to ferry the pilgrims also, as well as other international airlines so competition can thrive.
"Insha Allah, if I’m still with OMA next year, I will open the hajj to other airlines to effect a lower fare for our pilgrims," he said. Mangudadatu welcomed the OMA official’s plan.
"If I can have my way, I shall endeavor to reduce the hajj fare by at least $100," said Mangudadatu. "The pilgrims deserve a lower hajj cost due to the religious nature of the trip."
Former OMA Hajj Director Usop Kasan, also in that meeting, said Saudia officials reasoned out that the high hajj fare is due to very high demand for plane seats during the annual religious rites.
Mangudadatu said the Saudi government can still reduce the hajj fare by at least US$100, even with the high demand.
Saudia, virtually the sole carrier of Filipino pilgrims, has pegged the twoway hajj fare at US$950, plus $20 insurance and fuel surcharges.
While hajj fare is $970, Saudia puts the umrah fare in the same route this year at only $770, and the fare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) said to be even lower.
Tomawis, still new to OMA, and Mangudadatu wondered aloud why the same umrah fare could not be adopted by Saudia for hajj when it is also a religious trip and there are at least 3,000 hajj pilgrims a year.
Tomawis and Mangudadatu met Oct. 10 at the Saudi Embassy for Ambassador Mohammad Ameen Wali’s Ramadan dinner (iftar) and discussed ways to lessen the financial burden shouldered by pilgrims.
Many Filipino pilgrims are 50 years old and above due to years of saving enough money for the highly-commercialized pilgrimage, which every Muslim must perform once in his lifetime.
Tomawis said the President specifically instructed him to improve the hajj operation and the services to pilgrims due to many complaints reaching Malacañang every year.
