Airlines Offer Dedicated Prayer Areas On Flight

Followers of the Islamic faith must pray daily. Long-haul flights can pose a challenge since there is little space, if any, for the usual practice.

Many Middle Eastern airlines have incorporated dedicated prayer space to give travelers the opportunity to practice their prayers even when in mid-flight.

Let's look at which carriers offer this option and how it is made possible.

Saudia (The National Saudi Arabia Carrier)

The most prominent airline to feature a prayer space is Saudia, the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia. With much of its passenger base the local Muslim population of the country, a prayer space can be an attractive feature for passengers. In the rear of all its widebody aircraft, Saudia has installed a prayer space.

The area is created by removing a section of economy seats ahead of the last galley in the center area. Some aircraft also feature a display pointing to find the Qibla, the direction of prayer for that moment. Larger aircraft can accommodate up to ten passengers on the carpeted floor and feature curtains for privacy.

While Saudia is the most notable airline for its use of the space, available on its A330s, 777s, and 787s, there are other Middle Eastern carriers offering the area as well.

Since creating the prayer area required removing 6-9 seats at least, most airlines are not too excited about losing out on the revenue. This explains why Emirates and Qatar Airways do not have prayer areas even on their largest A380s, combined with the more global nature of their passengers.

Other Carriers too...

United Arab Emirates flag carrier Etihad does create a section for prayers on its 787s and A380s. Passengers will be offered a prayer mat and area near the door that can be curtained off to pray. The screen also mentions the direction towards Mecca, similar to Saudia.

While they do not offer a dedicated section, Emirates has said that it is willing to provide large spaces on the aircraft for those who wish to pray along with the basics needed. Qatar Airways instead asks passengers to pray from their seats while flying.

Important part

For Muslim passengers who are accustomed to praying every day, airlines many airlines also offer some extra initiatives. You may have noticed that airlines such as Turkish Airlines, Emirates, and more all have the direction and distance from Mecca on in-flight entertainment screens.

Qatar Airways, Etihad, and Saudia also recite a prayer before the safety presentation and departure, highlighting their national roots. While this might be surprising to some non-native passengers, this is common in many Muslim countries. The prayer is:

Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. Glory is to Him Who has provided this for us though we could never have had it by our efforts. Surely, unto our Lord, we are returning. O Allah, we ask You on this our journey for goodness and piety, and for works that are pleasing to You. O Allah, lighten this journey for us and make its distance easy for us. O Allah, you are our Companion on the road and the One in Whose care we leave our family. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from this journey's hardships, and from the wicked sights in store and from finding our family and property in misfortune upon returning.

This article was previously published on saudimoments.To see the original article, click here