Relatives panic as pilgrims’ arrive late in Peshawar

Pilgrims on another flight first diverted to Karachi and then to Islamabad

PESHAWAR: People waiting for their relatives to return from Saudi Arabia after completing Hajj went into a panic on Monday after a foreign airline arrived nearly an hour later than its scheduled time.

While people associate tardiness and delays with domestic airlines, especially the national flag carrier — the Pakistan International Airline (PIA) — this time it was Saudi Airlines which was the culprit.

Saudi Airline’s flight SV-794 — which was scheduled to arrive at the Bacha Khan International Airport (BKIA) from Jeddah at around 3:30 pm on Monday did not arrive at the scheduled time.



People waiting for their relatives, with some having travelled to the provincial capital from remote parts of the province, started to panic.

The flight, though finally landed in Peshawar at around 4:25pm, 55 minutes after schedule.

Delays also struck another flight, Air Blue’s ABQ-6717. It was originally scheduled to arrive at the BKIA at 5:40pm.

Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) officials explained that since the flight had also picked up Karachi-bound pilgrims, it first diverted towards Karachi before heading north.

After dropping off pilgrims in Karachi, it headed to the federal capital to drop off the Peshawar-based passengers.

“SV-794 reached late but ABQ-6717 will drop pilgrims at Islamabad since it changed its route from Jeddah-Peshawar to Jeddah-Karachi-Islamabad,” a senior CAA official disclosed, adding, “Yes, pilgrims will most likely protest but the airline will have to respond to complaints.”

According to Air Blue’s management, they had to drop Karachi-based pilgrims which is why the flight was diverted towards Karachi. They added that Peshawar-based pilgrims will be provided with a bus transfer from Islamabad to the provincial capital.



“Yes, we have made all arrangements and these 177 [Peshawar bound] pilgrims will be provided transportation from Islamabad to Peshawar,” an Air Blue management officer told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity since he was not entitled to speak to the media.

On the other hand, CAA officials have already conveyed strict instructions to its employees not to allow more than one attendant inside the airport premises since expansion work on the facility is still under way and there is not enough space to accommodate attendants for over 300 passengers [on average per flight].

Published in The Express Tribune, August 28^th, 2018.