Whole Network Most Recent TOP10 Aircraft Airshows Fly-ins Safety

 

Vatican-Supported Airline Launched

Filed in archive Aviation Travel by Terah Shelton on August 27, 2007

32226133.jpg
Do you dream of visiting the Holy Land? Well, now you can - via airplane. On Monday, a Vatican-supported charter airline made its first flight. The small airline is expected to officially launch next year and carry passengers (or I should say) pilgrims to religious cities and locations throughout the world. Destinations will include Fatima, Portugal; Sinai, Egypt; Lourdes, France, and more.

The flights, scheduled to start regular service next year, are tailored to the pilgrims' needs, with inscriptions such as "I search for Your face, Lord," decorating the seats, and religious videos shown on board.

"We want to create the conditions to enable pilgrims to live their pilgrimage starting at their city's airport and even before they arrive at their destinations," said the Rev. Caesar Atuire, CEO for the "Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi," an outfit that organizes pilgrimages for the Diocese of Rome.

"That's why we created this initiative, with a dedicated aircraft, trained staff, and messages (on board) to help people live a better experience," he told reporters at a presentation ahead of the inaugural flight, which carried VIPs and church officials to Lourdes.

The five-year agreement between Mistral Air, a small airline owned by the private Italian post office, and the "Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi," offers flights leaving from seven Italian airports, including Rome and Verona, with a Boeing 737-300.

Officials expect the deal will bring an estimated 150,000 passengers a year to destinations including Fatima, Portugal; Lourdes, France; Santiago de Compostela, Spain; the Holy Land; Czestochowa, Poland; and Sinai, Egypt.

Details on schedules and fares are still being discussed. However, Atuire said the airline is hoping to offer pilgrims competitive prices.

"The way to make pilgrimages can change over time but their deepest meaning remains the same: To look for a deeper contact with God," he told reporters before boarding the inaugural flight.


Source


Advertisement


Permalink: Vatican-Supported Airline Launched
Tags: Aviation  Travel  Pilgrim  Charter  Airline  Lourdes  France  Vatican  aviation  vatican+supported 

Trackback: http://www.creative-weblogging.com/cgi-bin/mt-tb.pl/88384



Advertisement


Advertisement


CW ToolbarInstall
RSSrss   | See all blog subscribe options
Googlegoogle   |   What is RSS?
Yahoo!yahoo
AddthisAddThis Feed Button
BloglinesBloglines
Newsletter
Advertisement - Book yours here.

Use our search feature to look for other interesting posts

Just this blog Whole network
Advertisement -
Book yours here..


 
  • Would you like to see your text link here? Let us know!
Advertisement
Book yours here.



  • Other blogs in the same channel in the Creative Weblogging Network

Advertisement -
Book yours here..






Advertisement - Book yours here..
 
Tagcloud: $100 Hamburger Aircraft Airshows Aviation Blogs Aviation History Aviation News Aviation Products Aviation Quotes Aviation Resources Aviation Travel Basics Education Flight Planning Flight Training Fly-ins Fun Stuff General Personal Thoughts Safety Training Tips