Pope Benedict XVI inaugurated the first Vatican low-cost charter flight service aiming to transport Catholic pilgrims to holy shrines from several parts in Europe to the Middle East.The Italian post office, owner of the charter airline, Mistral Air, took off for its first flight from Rome to Lourdes in France at 11:30 a.m. local time.
The airline aims to cater around 150,000 pilgrims in its first year of operation.
All scheduled flights will initially service Catholic shrines in France, Poland, Spain, Middle East and in the future will include Mexico.
The Vatican has signed a five-year agreement with local travel organizations to organize pilgrimages for the Diocese of Rome.
Mistral Air, was used to carry courier cargo letters and parcels for the Italian post office, is now ready to soar its wings to take passengers to different Catholic destinations.
Low cost airlines are doing good business in Italy. The number of passengers they transported increased by 20 percent last year.
According to report, the Vatican has no airport, only a helipad used by the Pope for his local journeys while the Italian air force is providing the helicopter transport for the head of Vatican.
Now, Mistral Air's two charter jets are now being painted with yellow and white, the signature colors of the Vatican.
Aside from that, interiors of the jet are now decorated with sacred scriptures such as: "I search for your face, Lord."
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