For the first time, direct flights between Herat and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, have commenced from Khwaja Abdullah Ansari International Airport.

Local officials in Herat said that on the first flight, which took place last night, 127 pilgrims traveled to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for Umrah.

Ahmadullah Muttaqi, head of Information and Culture in Herat, told TOLOnews: "Ariana Afghan Airlines managed to conduct the first flight from Herat to Jeddah, which had not been done before. Pilgrims are flying directly from here to Jeddah."

According to local officials in Herat, flights between Herat and Jeddah will now be conducted regularly.

Hayatullah Mohajer Farahi, the acting deputy governor of Herat, said: "This is just the beginning. Efforts are being made to have flights from Herat to various countries in the future."

Last night's flight was the first international flight conducted from Khwaja Abdullah Ansari International Airport after years of anticipation. For years, pilgrims and travelers from the western region who intended to travel to Saudi Arabia and other countries had to go to Kabul or Kandahar.

"This is a great joy for the people of Herat. These flights should continue from Herat to Mecca and Jeddah so that pilgrims no longer have to wander to Kabul and Kandahar," Abdul Qayoom Saqib, head of a travel and pilgrimage company in Herat, told TOLOnews.

In past years, direct flights between Herat-Delhi and Herat-Mashhad were conducted through Khwaja Abdullah Ansari Airport, but these flights were stopped for unclear reasons.

Local officials in Herat pledged that efforts are ongoing to initiate more flights between Herat and other countries through Khwaja Abdullah Ansari International Airport.