DUSHANBE, November 7, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Ms. Nazira Davlatova, a spokeswoman for Tajik national air carrier, TajikAir, said that not Saudi but Iranian air company would carry Tajik Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

She said, “Iran’s Ajla Air Limited Com (phonetically spelled) will use L-1011 TriStar to carry Tajik Muslims to Saudi Arabia.”  

The Lockheed L-1011 TriStar was the third widebody passenger jet airliner to enter operation, following the Boeing 747 and the McDonnell Douglas DC-10.  Like the DC-10, the TriStar is a three-engine jet airliner.  Between 1968 and 1984, Lockheed manufactured a total of 250 TriStars.  The design featured a twin-aisle interior with a maximum of 400 passengers.

According to Davlatova, the Iranian air carrier will operate flights under an agreement on cooperation in carrying Tajik Hajj pilgrims.  

We will recall that Yunus Sharipov, a chief specialist with the directorate for religious affairs (DRA) within the Ministry of Culture (MoC), said in an interview with Asia-Plus on November 5 that more than 5,000 Tajik Muslims that will participate in this year’s Hajj will be carried to Saudi Arabia by a Saudi air company.