Amal by Malaysia Airlines has launched its 2026 Hajj operations with a fleet of 110 flights set to transport 15,620 Malaysian pilgrims to Madinah and Jeddah. The inaugural flight MH8050 departed Kuala Lumpur International Airport for Madinah on April 18, marking the start of the airline's dedicated Hajj service for the season.

Two-Phase Operation

The operation is split into two phases. Phase 1 comprises 55 outbound flights carrying pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, with arrivals at both Madinah's Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport and Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport. Phase 2 covers 55 return flights scheduled between June 4 and June 30, bringing pilgrims home after the completion of Hajj rites.

All flights are operated using A330-300 aircraft in a 284-seat configuration designed to prioritise comfort for the long journey. The spacious layout gives pilgrims more room during what can be an exhausting period of travel.

Domestic Feeder Network

To support pilgrims travelling from across Malaysia, Amal has arranged 67 domestic feeder flights connecting pilgrims from regional cities including Penang, Alor Setar, Kota Bharu, Kuala Terengganu, Johor Bahru, Kuching, and Kota Kinabalu to the main hub at KLIA. This ensures Malaysian pilgrims do not need to make their own way to the capital before their international departure.

Courier Service for Returning Pilgrims

Amal has introduced a specialised courier service through its subsidiary MASkargo for the return journey. Pilgrims can send parcels and packages from select hotels in Jeddah, Makkah, and Madinah directly to their home addresses in Malaysia via a door-to-door delivery service. This helps pilgrims optimise their baggage allowance for the flight home - particularly useful for those bringing back Zamzam water, dates, and gifts.

Part of a Larger Transport Effort

Malaysia's 110-flight Hajj operation sits within Saudi Arabia's broader transport plan of 3.1 million seats across over 12,000 flights from 145 destinations worldwide. Saudi national carrier Saudia has deployed 160 aircraft with over one million seats, while budget carrier flyadeal is transporting 85,000 pilgrims from 28 cities. The combined effort represents one of the largest coordinated air transport operations in the world, repeated annually for the Hajj season.