Haj is the pilgrimage where adult, able and Muslims who can afford to do it they do as their duty. It involves a journey to Mecca and some other places in Saudi Arabia, and is held on the eve of Eid-ul-Zuha. The flights are most likely to start from October 10. "While Air India will be the nodal agency for the over one lakh Indian Haj pilgrims expected to fly to Mecca, due to capacity constraints we are not likely to fly ourselves at all." Air India did make an attempt, but was outbid by the three Saudi Arabian Airlines. The national carrier now has only a very less chance of flying from Goa and Mangalore, two of the 19 embarkation points for pilgrims last year. Air India now has only three operational jumbos-down from the 11 last year-two of which are kept for VIP flights. "Even the A-310s used for Haj flights are fewer this year.Last year, Air India and two Saudi Airlines operated Haj flights between October 20, 2009 and January 1, 2010. Saudi Arabia decides the number of pilgrims from each country, and is likely to allow 20,000 more Indians this year. "The MEA will take a decision, we don't know anything about this. Sources in the ministry said they were waiting for a political decision on the nature of the MoU on the 'sensitive issue'. Competitive bidding will substantially reduce the Haj subsidy. The subsidy has been a sore point over the years: Muslim religious leaders have described it as 'un-Islamic' and not a subsidy at all, while those on the other side have decried the 'undue largesse' offered to the 'pampered minority'.