A jumbo flight 747 Sunday morning airlifted 506 would-be pilgrims from the Tamale airport to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this year's Hajj.  

The touching down of the Boing A330 at the airport was greeted with joy and relief to would-be pilgrims who were supposed have been airlifted a day earlier.

The Hajj Board explained that the delay was as a result of some challenges with airline operators, Flynas. 

That aircraft which departed the Tamale airport at 19:28 for Saudi Arabia and is expected to return to pick another batch of more than 400 would-be pilgrims, Deputy Communication Director of the Board, Eliasu Haruna, said.

''Delay in the issuance of visas are a thing of the past. Pilgrims are now offered a pre-departure screening to ascertain what medication the health department takes along with it,'' he said.

He added that the Hajj village has undergone a major renovation to ensure pilgrims are comfortable as they are processed to leave. 

''Apart from the renovated mosque, new office structures and a market facility, there's now a fully operational clinic and a communications unit all situated at the Hajj village,'' he said.