This year’s outbound Hajj flights began on July 24 and will continue until August 28, while return flights are scheduled from September 6 to October 5.

Hajj remains one of the most significant religious obligations for Muslims worldwide. However, the pilgrimage also requires considerable physical endurance, making good health and preparation especially important for travelers.

Medical specialists note that many pilgrims suffer from chronic illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, neurological disorders, arthritis, and kidney complications. The intense heat and demanding physical activities in Saudi Arabia can increase health risks if adequate precautions are not taken.

Doctors recommend consulting a physician before departure to review medication schedules and collect prescriptions for all necessary medicines.

Walking Practice Before Departure

Many Hajj rituals involve long periods of walking. Health professionals advise pilgrims to build stamina through regular walking exercises before travelling. Comfortable footwear is strongly recommended, and travelers are encouraged to wear in their shoes beforehand instead of using brand-new footwear during the pilgrimage.

Importance of Hydration and Balanced Meals

Saudi Arabia’s hot and dry climate can quickly lead to dehydration. Pilgrims are advised to drink plenty of water and consume fruits and fresh juices. Those with diabetes should avoid sugary beverages and maintain a carefully balanced diet.

Experts also warn against both overeating and skipping meals, emphasizing moderation and regular nutrition throughout the pilgrimage.

Respiratory Health Precautions

Dry weather and large crowds often contribute to respiratory illnesses during Hajj. Symptoms such as coughs, sore throats, fever, sneezing, and colds are common among pilgrims.

Health professionals recommend carrying basic medicines such as paracetamol and antihistamines, using masks in crowded areas, and gargling with lukewarm water when necessary.

Avoid Heat Exhaustion

Pilgrims are advised to avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and excessive physical strain to reduce the risk of heatstroke. Taking breaks in shaded areas, using umbrellas, and avoiding overcrowded situations can help prevent heat-related illnesses.

Advice for Diabetic and Heart Patients

People with diabetes are urged to eat on time after taking medication. Those with hypertension, heart disease, or asthma are advised not to skip prescribed medicines or inhalers during the pilgrimage.

Carry Essential Medical Supplies

Experts recommend packing oral saline packets, antiseptics, cotton bandages, burn ointments, thermometers, glucometers, and extra pairs of glasses if needed. Pilgrims should also keep copies of medical prescriptions with them.

Seek Medical Assistance Promptly

Anyone feeling unwell during Hajj is encouraged to seek immediate support from nearby medical camps or healthcare teams.

Health specialists say careful planning, awareness of personal medical conditions, and timely precautions can help pilgrims complete Hajj safely and focus fully on their spiritual journey.

The Norwegian Group carried 2.9 million passengers in August 2026, including 2.5 million passengers on Norwegian and 359,000 on Widerøe.

Norwegian increased its capacity by 3% year on year, while passenger traffic climbed 4%. Its load factor improved by 0.4 percentage points to 86.3%. The airline operated an average of 94 aircraft during the month.

Regularity stood at 98.9%, rising to 99.6% when cancellations related to the Avinor air traffic controllers’ strike are excluded. The industrial action disrupted travel for more than 20,000 passengers. Norwegian’s punctuality rate, measured by departures within 15 minutes of schedule, was 80.8%.

Widerøe increased capacity by 2%, while traffic remained unchanged. Its load factor consequently declined by 1.8 percentage points to 75.8%. The regional airline recorded punctuality of 93.3%, an improvement of 1.5 percentage points, while regularity reached 97.4%.

Norwegian said booking activity for the autumn remained strong, particularly around the school holidays. Meanwhile, its Norwegian Reward loyalty programme has surpassed 10 million members and is introducing five new membership tiers.

Source: QCAA

African airlines recorded a 6.4% year-on-year increase in passenger demand in July 2026, according to the latest data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Capacity across African carriers increased by 9.0% compared with July 2025, while the passenger load factor stood at 74.1%. Domestic revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) in the region rose 0.6% during the month.

Globally, total passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres, increased just 0.2% from July 2025. Excluding the Middle East, demand grew 1.2%, while available seat kilometres, the industry measure of capacity, increased 0.3%.

The global load factor was 85.2%. International demand declined 0.1% year on year. When the Middle East was excluded, international demand increased 1.5%, with capacity also rising 0.3% and the load factor reaching 85.2%.

Domestic passenger demand worldwide grew 0.6% compared with July 2025, while domestic capacity increased 0.2%. The domestic load factor stood at 85.3%.

Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist, said the peak Northern Hemisphere summer travel season had produced a largely positive result despite weaker performance by carriers in North America and the Middle East.

She also noted that traffic through Gulf aviation hubs was continuing to recover.

Thomsen said airlines remained confident about demand for the final months of the year despite elevated fuel costs, economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions. Carriers are planning to increase seat capacity by almost 3% in September, she added.

Source: Nigerian Tribune

Global air passenger demand recorded modest growth in July 2026, as strong performances in several regions helped offset declines among carriers in North America and the Middle East, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Total revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) increased by 0.2% compared with July 2025. Excluding Middle Eastern airlines, global passenger demand rose by 1.2%.

Worldwide capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), grew by 0.3% year-on-year, while the global passenger load factor slipped by 0.1 percentage points to 85.2%.

International traffic declined by 0.1% compared with the same month last year. However, excluding Middle Eastern carriers, international demand increased by 1.5%.

Domestic passenger demand rose by 0.6%, supported by a 0.2% increase in capacity. The domestic load factor reached 85.3%.

Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA's Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist, said the peak Northern Hemisphere summer travel season had delivered an overall positive picture for aviation despite challenges in key markets.

“Overall growth of 0.2% in July was achieved despite year-on-year collective declines by carriers in North America and the Middle East,” she said, adding that traffic through Gulf hubs continued to recover.

Thomsen noted that high fuel prices, economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions remain challenges for the industry. However, airlines remain confident about demand later in the year, with seat capacity expected to expand by almost 3% in September.

European airlines posted demand growth of 3.1%, supported in particular by a 12.1% surge in traffic between Europe and Asia.

Latin American carriers recorded a 7.1% increase in demand, while African airlines reported growth of 6.4%.

Elsewhere, Asia-Pacific demand declined by 0.7%, and North American carriers saw a 2.3% fall. Middle Eastern airlines reported the sharpest decline, with demand down 9.5%, although the pace of the downturn continued to ease.

Domestic traffic rose 0.6% worldwide, with China and Brazil reporting strong growth. In contrast, domestic markets in the United States, Australia and India recorded declines.

Source: ZAWYA

Typhoon Dolphin brought torrential rain to Shanghai on Monday, August 10, 2026, flooding roads and commercial areas and severely disrupting air travel in the city.

The weather system forced Shanghai’s two airports to cancel a combined 943 flights, while their overall passenger capacity was reduced by nearly 40%.

The disruption followed Dolphin’s landfall in Zhejiang province on Sunday evening. The typhoon struck areas south and west of Shanghai with maximum sustained winds of 151 kilometres per hour near its centre.

Dolphin later weakened into a tropical storm, but its remaining rain bands continued to bring heavy precipitation across large parts of eastern China.

Shanghai, the country’s second-most populous city, experienced widespread flooding, including in several major commercial districts.

China Eastern Airlines said it was working to gradually restore flights to Shanghai, Zhejiang and other affected destinations as weather conditions improve.

Source: Asia News Network

Thousands of WestJet cabin crew members began strike action on Aug. 2 after nearly 11 months of contract negotiations failed to result in a new labor agreement, triggering widespread disruptions across the airline's network.

The industrial action involves around 4,400 flight attendants represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 8125. The strike officially started after talks between the union and the airline ended without a new collective agreement.

The labor dispute has already forced WestJet to cancel more than 300 flights, affecting travel plans across its domestic and international routes.

Ahead of the strike, the airline had begun grounding portions of its Boeing 737 fleet as a precautionary measure to minimize operational disruption and reduce the risk of leaving passengers and aircraft stranded during the work stoppage.

Source: Aero Time